In Bulgaria, mobile communication services are provided by three main operators M-tel (A1), Vivacom, Telenor. In addition to the main service, television connection and equipment setup are offered. Despite the fact that all companies have approximately the same prices and mobile Internet coverage, each of them has its own opponents and supporters. Below we will provide specific information on each of them.
Be careful, contract!
Connection is possible on the basis of prepayment and postpayment (contract). Be careful when signing a contract, as it is concluded for at least a year (and sometimes three with your tacit consent). It is not possible to terminate the contract; from the moment of signing, you are obliged to pay the operator a fixed monthly subscription fee until the end of its validity (1-2 years). The text of the contract is provided only in Bulgarian, which sellers actively use to put the unlucky tourist “in bondage”. If you need time to familiarize yourself with the contract, take it home, read it with a native speaker you know, or translate it yourself using the Internet, and only then sign it. Do not hesitate to ask questions to consultants before concluding a contract; after you sign, their politeness and attentiveness will disappear. If there are no payments under the contract, the company takes the subscriber to court, which may subsequently affect entry into the Eurozone.
New M-tel logo
M-tel (A1)
The company has been operating in Bulgaria since 1995. In 2018, rebranding was carried out (the reason was the merger with the Austrian operator Telekom Austria Group) and therefore the company received a new logo and name - A1. The operator also provides services in Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia. The company's new advertising materials have a bright, memorable design.
The letter A that makes up the logo changes its appearance in relation to upcoming holidays and events. The company maintains a blog and reports news through its Instagram account. In the AppStore and GooglePlay you can download the free application for the phone “A1 Bulgaria”, unfortunately, the choice of languages is limited to English and Bulgarian. The application allows you to monitor the consumption of free minutes and Internet traffic, as well as pay for communications by card.
Along with the above facts, it is also worth mentioning that due to unfair commercial practices, the company was fined several times. October 3, 2014 in the amount of BGN 361,000 (European Court of Arbitration in Prague), February 22, 2017 in the amount of BGN 77,000,000 (claims for unpaid taxes). The company also provides communications through the "Bob" brand (judging by the name, designed for English tourists) on the basis of prepaid tariffs.
AppStore: https://itunes.apple.com/ bg/app/my-a1/id1104333674?mt=8
GooglePlay: https://play.google. com/store/apps/details?id=bg.mobiltel.android.selfcare
Company website: www.a1.bg
Regular facial expression of a Vivacom subscriber
Vivacom
The full name of the company is Bulgarian Telecommunications Company EAD (“BTC”). The Vivacom brand appeared in 2009, was founded on the basis of a state telecommunications company, privatized by private business. The company’s slogan is “Vsichko, koeto ni svarzva” (Everything that connects us). On the Internet there is an incredible number of negative reviews about the Vivacom service. Technical support, which is responsible for setting up and installing equipment for television and home Internet, is especially criticized.
In communication shops tourists who do not read and speak Bulgarian well are being scammed into 2-year contracts. Often at the end of the month unknown additional costs are added to the fixed cost of the tariff. A statement detailing the account is paid for and costs about 5 levs. Of course, service differs in different cities, but in tourist places there are especially many scams. Nevertheless, there are clients who are satisfied with everything.
Among other things, Vivacom has difficulties with “sharing” the Internet, aimed at limiting traffic. There is no possibility to distribute the Internet from the phone to other devices without special settings. Office workers refuse to help solve this problem under various pretexts. The AppStore and GooglePlay also have the “My VIVACOM” application that allows you to monitor your tariff usage, connect additional packages, and pay for communications.
AppStore: https://itunes.apple.com/ bg/app/my-vivacom/id1297193461?mt=8
GooglePlay: https://play.google.com/ store/apps/details?id=bg.vivacom.mobile
Company website: www.vivacom.bg
Telenor
The company was founded in 1855 in Norway. Provides communication services in Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and Asia. In 2013, the company absorbed the Bulgarian mobile operator Globul. Telenor was the first to launch a 4G network in Bulgaria.
Mostly, clients complain about evaporated minutes of free calls, rudeness of consultants, lack of transparency expenses. There are difficulties with activating the SIM card, do not leave the salon until the connection appears.
AppStore: https://itunes.apple.com/ bg/app/mytelenor-bulgaria/id1186781645?mt=8
GooglePlay: https://play.google.com/ store/apps/details?id=bg.telenor.mytelenor
Company website: www.telenor.bg
Features
- When you change operator, you can save your phone number.
- In Schengen countries Internet is provided at the price of a local one, but some operators require confirmation of this service in the communication shop. In countries that are not part of the Eurozone, Internet services are provided at inflated rates; before traveling there, we advise you to remove the SIM card and leave it in Bulgaria.
- Almost all operators do not have access to Internet and communication services high in the mountains.
- To purchase a SIM card in the official salon you will need a passport, to register a contract - a residence permit card.
- In addition to official offices and the application, payment can be made through the website www .ubbpay.bg in the “Bitovi from tag/Phone” section for a small percentage of the payment amount, and if you have an OBB bank card, payment is interest-free.
- In Bulgaria there are three operators A1 (formerly M-tel), Vivacom, Telenor. Tariffs, Internet coverage and prices for all operators are approximately the same.
- If you come to Bulgaria for a very short period of time, use Wi-Fi in a hotel or cafe. Buying a local SIM card for a short period of time is not profitable.
- Do not enter into a contract with a cellular operator (no matter how the consultants in the communication salon persuade you, they are not shy about lying shamelessly), if you are not ready to pay for cellular communications monthly within 1- 3 years. It is impossible to terminate the contract early without serious financial losses.
- A contract with a mobile operator can only be terminated within a month from the date of connection.
- After the expiration date, the contract will be renewed automatically! You must submit an application for termination to the official sales office in person. The employee who accepted your application must give you confirmation that the company has received your application (application number or document with the operator’s stamp).