Telemor SIM Card in Timor-Leste: Prices, Data Plans and Internet Speed

When travelling around Timor-Leste, having mobile internet makes it much easier to check maps, look up practical information and keep our travel blog updated. We bought a prepaid SIM card from a Telemor shop in Dili and chose a weekly unlimited data package.

The SIM card itself cost US$3.50, while each seven-day data package cost US$5. We bought three scratch cards to cover three weeks, bringing the total to US$18.50, paid in cash.

One thing that surprised us was the price difference between the weekly package and a 30-day plan. We were quoted US$5 for seven days of unlimited data and US$30 for 30 days. However, Telemor offers several different packages, so the prices may not be directly comparable.

Here is what we learnt from buying and using a Telemor SIM card in Dili and on Atauro Island, including the top-up process and our experience of mobile internet speed.

🇯🇵 この記事を日本語で読む：東ティモールのTelemor SIMカード購入体験｜料金・無制限データ・通信速度

What Is Telemor?

Telemor is a mobile telecommunications provider in Timor-Leste, offering mobile services and internet packages.

We bought our prepaid SIM card at a Telemor shop in Dili, the country’s capital. We wanted a local mobile data connection for everyday travel needs, including navigation, online research and updating our blog.

Telemor offers several types of data packages, including unlimited internet plans and packages that combine data with calls and SMS. Checking the details before purchasing is worthwhile, particularly if you plan to stay for several weeks.

How Much Does a Telemor SIM Card Cost?

Here is what we paid at the shop in Dili:

• SIM card: US$3.50
• Seven-day unlimited data package: US$5 each
• Three data packages: US$15
• Total: US$18.50

We paid the full amount in cash.

The data packages came on orange scratch cards labelled Sosa Pakete Fasil Liu. The cards also displayed US$5, 5G and the code *177#.

The SIM card and data packages were charged separately. We purchased three weekly packages at the same time, giving us enough credit for three weeks of use, although the second and third cards still need to be activated when we need them.

You Need Your Passport to Buy a SIM Card

We were asked to show a passport when buying the SIM card at the Telemor shop in Dili. If you plan to buy a local SIM card after arriving in Timor-Leste, remember to bring your passport with you.

Telemor Data Plans and Prices

At the shop, we were quoted the following prices for unlimited data:

• Seven days: US$5
• 30 days: US$30

At first glance, the 30-day option seemed surprisingly expensive compared with buying the weekly package. Three weekly packages cost US$15 in total, whereas the quoted monthly option was US$30.

However, Telemor has several different packages, and they do not necessarily offer the same benefits.

For example, Telemor’s official website lists the following options:

• DU4G7: US$5 for seven days of unlimited internet.
• DU30: US$25 for 30 days of unlimited internet.
• Diamond: US$30 for a package that includes unlimited internet and calls and SMS benefits.

(After actually using it a few days later, we discovered that it is not entirely unlimited. Please refer to the update at the end of this post for further details.)

The Diamond package is therefore not necessarily a like-for-like comparison with a data-only package. If you mainly need internet access, a data-focused plan may be more suitable. If you also need calls and messages, a combined package could offer better value.

One important point: although the price and duration of the DU4G7 package match what we paid, we have not confirmed the exact package code printed on our scratch cards. We therefore cannot say for certain that our cards were DU4G7.

The shop also showed us a few data packages with fixed data allowances, rather than unlimited internet. These may be worth considering if you do not use much mobile data or are only staying in Timor-Leste for a short time.

We chose an unlimited data package, but a plan with a fixed data allowance might be more suitable depending on your usage and length of stay. The prices and data allowances vary by package, so it is worth asking the staff about the available options before making a purchase.

Package prices and conditions may change, so check the current offers on the official Telemor website before buying.

How to Activate a Telemor Scratch Card

Our data packages came on scratch cards rather than being activated individually through an app.

The shop assistant activated the first seven-day package for us when we bought the SIM card. We plan to activate the remaining two cards ourselves, one at a time, as each seven-day period ends.

The process is expected to be straightforward:

1. Scratch off the covered section of the card.
2. Reveal the number underneath.
3. Follow the instructions provided with the card to enter the number and activate the package.
4. Check that mobile data is working after activation.

Our cards also displayed *177#. Telemor’s official website lists this code as one way to access its package registration options. However, follow the specific instructions printed on your card, as the exact activation procedure may vary.

We have not yet completed the second and third activations, so these steps describe our planned process rather than a fully tested experience.

Buying a SIM Card in Dili: Language Tips

The staff at the Telemor shop spoke Tetum, Indonesian and English.

Whilst English was more or less possible, we found it easier to communicate in Indonesian. We used Indonesian to discuss the packages and understand the prices.

Tetum and Portuguese are important languages in Timor-Leste, but Indonesian can also be useful in everyday situations. If you have travelled in Indonesia, it may be worth trying Indonesian when buying a SIM card or asking about mobile data.

Before paying, make sure you understand the package duration, whether the data is unlimited, and whether calls or SMS are included.

Mobile Internet Speed in Dili

We were able to use our Telemor SIM card to access the internet around Dili. However, we noticed that the connection seemed to become slower in the late afternoon.

This is our personal observation rather than the result of a formal speed test. Internet performance can vary depending on location, network congestion and the time of day.

The connection was usable for everyday tasks, such as browsing websites and checking information, although some activities took longer when the connection slowed down.

If you rely on mobile internet for work or uploading content, it is worth allowing extra time rather than assuming the connection will always be fast.

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Using Telemor on Atauro Island

After leaving Dili, we continued using the same SIM card on Atauro Island.

In Beloi village where we stayed, the connection was not too bad, but it was not exceptionally fast either. It was adequate for general internet use, although we would not describe it as a particularly fast connection.

Network conditions vary depends on your location on Atauro Island. Please read the note below for further details.

Does Telemor Slow Down When Using a Hotspot?

I use Mai’s smartphone as a mobile hotspot to connect my own phone to the internet.

We noticed that the connection seemed slower when sharing it through the hotspot. This was particularly noticeable when using two devices rather than just the phone with the SIM card.

Telemor also warns on some of its personal unlimited data packages that hotspot sharing can reduce internet speed. The provider’s conditions are worth checking if you plan to connect a second phone, tablet or laptop.

If you are travelling as a couple and intend to share one SIM card between two phones, remember that the connection may not perform as well as it does on the primary device alone.

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What We Discovered After Using Telemor: Data Limits and Coverage (Updated information)

After using our Telemor SIM card for several weeks, we discovered a few important details that had not been clear when we bought it. In particular, the meaning of “unlimited data” was rather different from what we had initially expected, and coverage on Atauro Island was more limited than we had hoped.

Unlimited Data Did Not Mean Unlimited High-Speed Data

The first seven-day package was activated for us by a member of staff at the Telemor shop in Dili. We were told that it offered unlimited data, so we used the internet quite freely, without worrying about how much data we were consuming.

However, one day we received a message on the phone explaining that only a certain amount of high-speed data remained. It also warned that internet speed would be reduced once that allowance had been used up.

In other words, the package was technically unlimited in terms of continued internet access, but there was a limit on the amount of data available at full speed. Once that allowance was exhausted, the connection would be throttled.

This was something we had not understood when purchasing the package.

The US Scratch Card Was Not Truly Unlimited Either

We later started using the orange scratch cards to top up our seven-day data packages.

Unfortunately, these worked differently. Once we had used up the included data allowance, the internet stopped working altogether rather than simply becoming slower.

From our experience, the US$5 scratch card provided no more than 15GB of data.

So, despite being described as an unlimited package when we bought it, the scratch-card package we used was definitely not unlimited in practice.

This is particularly important if you regularly watch videos online or share your connection between several devices. Before buying a package, I would recommend asking how many gigabytes are included and what happens once the allowance has been used up. Does the speed simply decrease, or does the internet stop working completely?

Telemor Coverage on Atauro Island: Not Available Everywhere

Another important discovery was the difference in mobile coverage across Atauro Island.

We had a usable Telemor signal in Beloi and other parts of the eastern side of the island. However, when we travelled to Adara and Atecru on the western side, we found that Telemor had no signal at all. We were unable to use mobile internet in either location.

According to the owner of our homestay in Atecru, Telemor has no coverage there, but a Telkomsel SIM card from Timor-Leste should work.

We only had our Telemor SIM card with us, so we could not verify this independently. However, if we visit Atauro Island again, I would like to try a Telkomsel SIM card to see whether it provides better coverage in the western villages.

If you are planning to stay in Adara or Atecru, I would not rely on Telemor for your internet connection. It is worth asking your accommodation in advance which mobile network works best in the area.

What to Know Before Buying a Telemor SIM Card

After this experience, I would recommend checking a few things before choosing a Telemor data package.

• How many gigabytes of high-speed data are included?
• What happens when the data allowance is exhausted? Is the connection throttled or does internet access stop completely?
• Does Telemor have coverage in the village or area where you plan to stay?

The difference between unlimited data and unlimited high-speed data is particularly important. A package may allow continued internet access after the high-speed allowance has been used, but that does not necessarily mean the connection will remain practical for everyday use.

Coverage is another consideration when travelling around Atauro Island. Our experience showed a clear difference between the eastern and western parts of the island.

The Telemor SIM card was useful in the areas where it had coverage, but I would not recommend assuming that it will work everywhere in Timor-Leste. Checking both the data conditions and local coverage before purchasing can save a lot of frustration during your trip.

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