TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Phone network

I am planning to buy a new unlocked phone so that I can just add a SIM card to use in SXM. Does anyone know if the SXM network is now 4G moving to 5G?

This past November, I had to switch my (T-mobile) phone from 5G to 4G to get it to work in SXM. I didn't have any problems making calls or sending texts once I switched it to 4G. Don't know if there are plans to have SXM go to 5G (I would be surprised if they do).

If you have an old unlocked phone it will likely work with a SXM sim card. I have an old samsung galaxy s8 that is working great. (was originally used on the Verizon/Visible network back home). Just make sure it is unlocked.

Don’t understand ??
I have a new iPhone 14 pro max and are on T-Mobile and I don’t have to switch anything and everything works fine !!

T-Mobil you don’t have to do anything.

I have an iPhone 13 plus with Verizon, most iPhones are now dual sim. So I have my US number as an E-sim and have the Chippie installed as a chip and can flip back and forth. Super easy and no need for a second phone. But to be honest I almost never used my sxm number as there is Wi-Fi everywhere. Keep you phone on “cellular data off”, you don’t incur charges but calls and texts will come in and respond when on Wi-Fi.

I would switch to T-Mobile much cheaper on and off the island !!
You don’t have to do anything !!
I should have switched years ago !!

Knowing where the OP lives, I doubt that T-Mobile is a viable option for them at home. I know where I live in ENC, Verizon is the only reliable option.

Exactly. t-Mobil is crappy here in CT. Few pockets of good coverage but Verizon is perfect in the NY/CT area. Trust me I looked into it!

I'm pretty sure it's 4G. Make sure you get an unlocked US phone with a US warranty (I just bought two) and have the supplier clone your current phone's data onto it. I got two Samsung S20s, both unlocked with the capability of holding two SIMS each; you just switch to whichever you need.

I was told by TMobile if you use WhatsApp, calls are free...I was travelling to Dominican Republic...so? Hopefully next year my new s23Ultra will work in SXM...Particularly text, internet!

All calls and texts are free on WhatsApp. It doesn't matter what network.

When on Wi-Fi.

You can also make calls via Facebook for free on Wi-Fi.

Just make sure you are on airplane mode.

We have T-Mobile. I did a live chat with a representative and they have a plan for foreign travel. It cost $15 monthly to add it to your existing plan. However, he said he was waiving the $15 fee and we have the plan now indefinitely for 250 countries. I suppose it was because we have had T-Mobile for many years, but not sure. When I asked what we have to do to get it to work in SXM he said we simply shut down our phone and restart and it will automatically connect to the service in St. Martin. It's unlimited text and stream and .25 per minute for calls. We'll try it out in a few weeks when we're down there. Anyone else have this T-Mobile service and how did it work? We'll be on the French side.

Wow Lancer $15 a month for foreign travel. On our recent visit this year our mobile provider (Bell Canada) charged me $16 per day to use my phone in addition to the monthly rate!!! We're getting ripped off by Canadian mobile providers.

Doesen't the receiving party also have to have WhatsApp? or is that for off wifi calls....and if calling the USA (or USA cell phones anywhere) I just use wifi calling at no cost but calling an SXM establishment would have a small charge DEFINITELY not $16/day

Correct. Receiving phones have to have WhatsApp too.

Thanks...the comment made it seem that you could call anyone for free

Yes as long as you are on wifi, airplane mode and recipient also has WhatsApp. At home you don't need to be on airplane mode to call it receive any number foreign or domestic.

WhatsApp and wifi calling are great, IF you have wifi. Doesn't do you much good if you have a emergency on the road. We had an old phone with a chippie card for several years, but for the last few trips have just used our Verizon international plan when we don't have wifi. Our plan gives us one free international day per month, so we've never had to pay the usual $10 fee.

Isn't that 10 per day whenever you do use it. You could do that everyday if needed if I remember right from the past.

Just make sure that you have your phone set to 4G. I set mine to 5G in the US since we have a pretty robust 5G signal here in NJ. A couple of years ago, when we got to SXM my Tmobile was inexplicably not working. Jeff from DK Gems explained that I just needed to switch to 4G and everything worked perfectly again.

Yes, $10 for 24 hours of talk, text, and data, beginning when you first actually use the service. I've never actually used it more than a few days during our annual three week trips, but I like knowing I have the option.

Great option for an emergency. We have used it before WhatsApp.

If I am not mistaken, 5 G requires a fair amount of infrastructure. And I doubt very seriously that is going to happen in SXM soon.

Heck, we can't get 5 G here in Central Florida in the boonies!

Are the police on whatsapp?

I wouldn't worry about that. If I need police I'll dial 911 and wouldn't care what it costs.

I actually don't think it's 911 in SXM?

Phone in our room says to dial 911 for emergency.

Yes, it is. I have dialed it.

Sint Maarten (Dutch side)

910 = St. Smarten Medical Center

911 = Police

912 = Ambulance

919 = Fire Department

Yep, Verizon is the only one that works well in Southport.

Hello All,
We are arriving in SXM on Sunday. We have Android phones, Samsung Galaxy S22+. Will my phone not work in SXM? I have AT&T.

If you have the international pass it will work, $10 per 24 hour period and $5 for a 2nd line

International plan works fine for emergency calls but I keep my Samsung on airpalne mode and just use wifi calling (no cost at all) for calls back to the USA or to USA based cell phones. You can always turn off airplane mode if you need to make a call outside of wifi availability but it will cost $10 for a 24 hour period.

If you just have to make a few local SXM calls then still use wifi calling and the cost will be much less for those assuming they are reasonably short. I did this with a car rental issue when in SXM and the calls (2) cost me less than $3

Thanks to you all for the help! Greatly appreciated.

as boucharda said, IF you are someplace where you have internet, just put the phone in airplane mode and it works great to make calls to and from the US! No cost on either side of the call.