Manama - Post Report Question and Answers
Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
VIVA is the best - unlike internet in the house, the LTE on my phone was ok (albeit still censored). For about $30 a month I got 10GB, and discounted calling international calling if I needed it. I rarely exceeded the 10GB amount data package. Also, because VIVA is owned by Saudi Telecom, if you traveled within the GCC you could subscribe to data add-on packages while roaming, so for an extra $10 - 15 you could get unlimited data roaming while in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, etc. If you were a frequent regional traveler like myself, then it's a very convenient option to have. - Apr 2017
There are lots of brands that people have and they all seem to work fine. - Nov 2015
Embassy provided. - Aug 2014
We’re dependent on them. - Sep 2012
They are necessary and easy to get. Embassy employees are normally issued a cheap phone and a post-paid service, but family members will have no problem getting their own service. Coverage is very good, too. It's a small island! - Apr 2010
You will need one because you will probably have a minor car accident. I use a prepaid one with Batelco. Decent service. - Jun 2009
Can go for Batelco or Vodafone(Zain). You can get something called a simsim from batelco which is a prepaid card and you can use that with a sim card bought from them. IPhone is available but the retail cost is like around US$1,600, but it's unlocked. - Dec 2008
