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Hi Dilys

How long are you coming over for?

Are you looking for Pay as You go or a Fixed length of time Contract?

What do you want in the package, free SMS Texts), free Call Minutes, Free Data (WAP)?

SimCityAT
Expat Team

Coming for good and will initially buy a pay as you go, hopefully just for 30 days. Then we’d like the best package available. We are unlikely to have a landline, unless that is the norm in Portugal. When we buy a property we are hoping to buy a smart hub for home internet.
So just the best cell provider for coverage. And data is the most important
TIA

Hi again,

Thank you for clearing that up, it's always good to give as much information as possible. Alas, I can't help you with which provider is best as I don't live in Portugal. 

Landlines do seem to be becoming rarer for voices calls. Saying that here in Austria we have our internet through a fixed-line and get a Telephone through it. We never call only have it to receive calls. As the family can call it for free from the UK.

So, it boils down to when you will settle down, buy a Pay as you go card when you arrive, then ask neighbours what they have/use. So you get the best out of the coverage where you settle.

I hope that helps?

SimCityAT
Expat Team

Thank you. Yes. Less and less people have landlines here in Canada too

My father is 80, he has a cell phone but it is only switched on when he calls. No, bother as I have free calls to the EU (Mobile & Landline). But he is old school and uses a fixed landline for his emails.

Its been a few years since I visited Portugal but if it like Austria most places advertise, (shops, restaurants, pubs etc...) with a cell number.

I will try and investigate for you what providers are the best pick of the best as I have some friends from there.

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

A couple of general points from my experience:

Unless for technical reasons you need a new phone, it's probably a good idea to use your current phone, rather than pay out a lot on a replacement (some countries require a credit history in that country before they will extend credit contract to an expat).

Related to the above; before you leave your current country, get the phone unlocked so it will accept another operators sim-card.  Some phones have the ability to have 2 sim-cards!

Many international airports have a mobile phone seller in the arrivals area who will sell you a local pay as you go sim card without a lot of hassle; these normally come with calls/data charges included to the value of the purchase.

Make sure you have a plug adapter suitable for your phone charger and the local power supply.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

Thank y’all