Orange Egypt SIM Card And eSIM For Tourists – All You Need To Know.

Buying an Orange Egypt SIM card or eSIM is essential for tourists visiting Egypt to stay connected. Orange Egypt is one of the largest mobile network operators in the country, providing high quality 4G/5G coverage across major cities and towns. This guide provides all the necessary information for purchasing an Orange SIM card.

I. Quick Facts about Orange Egypt

Orange Egypt is one of the leading mobile networks in Egypt. It has great 4G coverage and speeds across the country. Here are some quick facts about Orange Egypt:

• Established: It launched operations in Egypt in 1998 under the brand name Mobinil. It rebranded to Orange in 2016.
• Subscribers: As of 2022, Orange Egypt has over 33 million subscribers, making it the second largest mobile operator in Egypt after Vodafone Egypt.
• Coverage: Orange uses 2G, 3G and 4G LTE networks in Egypt. Its 4G network covers 97% of the population as of 2022.
• Service provided: Orange Egypt offers prepaid and postpaid plans for voice, data, SMS and international roaming.

II. Orange Egypt Coverage and Speed

2.1 Orange Egypt coverage

Orange Egypt has excellent 2G, 3G and 4G LTE coverage across Egypt:

As Egypt’s largest mobile network, Orange has widespread 4G/LTE coverage across the country. Its 4G network covers 97% of Egypt’s population as of 2022, while the 2G network reaches 99% and 3G covers 96%. 4G is available in all major cities and tourist destinations like Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and Marsa Alam. Orange has also deployed 4G to remote areas along the Nile River Valley and in villages, as well as places like the Siwa Oasis in the Western Desert region. 

Only a few very remote or uninhabited locations may lack 4G access, but 2G or 3G coverage is still commonly available nationwide.

So with an Orange Egypt SIM, you can stay connected with voice, text and high speed data throughout Egypt. It has the widest and fastest 4G coverage among Egypt mobile networks.

2.2 Orange Egypt speed

Orange Egypt offers good 4G speeds averaging around 25-40 Mbps in most areas:

4G download speeds on Orange’s network vary depending on location and network congestion. In busy cities like Cairo, average speeds range from 16-20 Mbps due to high traffic. However, in more remote tourist areas where networks see less usage, speeds can reach up to 40 Mbps.

The maximum speed achievable on Orange 4G in ideal conditions is around 80-100 Mbps. While 3G speeds are usable at 1-15 Mbps, the performance is inconsistent depending on location.

In summary, Orange 4G delivers fast and reliable data speeds for HD video streaming, video calls, social media, maps etc across Egypt. Just avoid 2G only areas for mobile data.

III. Orange Egypt Connectivity Options for Travelers

Orange Egypt offers multiple easy connectivity options for travelers in Egypt:

Connectivity Options

In summary, getting an Orange tourist prepaid SIM or eSIM is recommended for cheap and fast data access. Roaming works but can be very expensive unless you have a roaming data package.

IV. Best Orange Egypt SIM card for Tourists & Cost

Here are the best Orange Egypt SIM card options for tourists to Egypt and their costs:

So the Orange Hossam SIM would be the most convenient and affordable option for tourists staying 1 week or less. The Saha SIM or Monthly Plans are better for extended trips of 1-4 weeks with moderate to heavy data/calling needs. 

V. Does Orange Egypt support eSIM?

Yes, Orange Egypt launched eSIM support in 2022. You can now use Orange Egypt eSIM on supported dual SIM devices.

Here are the key things to know about Orange Egypt eSIM:

• eSIM allows you to activate a cellular plan through QR code or app without using a physical SIM.
• It is supported on iPhone XS and above models currently. Many Android phones like Pixel and Galaxy S22 series also support eSIM.
• Orange prepaid eSIM packs come with same data allowance and validity as regular SIM cards.
• Orange tourist eSIM has 10GB data for EGP 255 valid for 15 days. You can recharge packs as needed.
• To get Orange Egypt eSIM, you must provide your passport details on their website or app.
• Settings for eSIM activation on iPhone: Cellular -> Add cellular plan

So with eSIM, you can use dual SIM functionality on your phone using your home SIM and Orange Egypt eSIM together when visiting Egypt.

VI. Where Can You Buy Orange Egypt SIM Card and eSIM?

You can easily buy Orange Egypt SIM cards and eSIMs at these locations and channels:

6.1 Where to buy Orange Egypt SIM card:

• Airports – Both Cairo International Airport and other regional airports have Orange kiosks where you can buy a SIM upon landing.

• Orange Stores – Orange has its own branded retail stores located across major cities in Egypt. Stores can be found in airports, shopping malls, metro stations etc.

• Convenience Stores – Larger minimarkets and convenience stores such as Spinneys and Cairo Festival City often have a small telecom section.

6.2 Where to buy Orange Egypt eSIM:

• Website: Orange Egypt eSIM is not sold at physical stores, only online. So you can buy online via the Orange Egypt website (orange.eg). The website allows buying different eSIM packages and plans that are delivered digitally. Payment is made online.
• Orange App: The official Orange Egypt mobile app has an eSIM section where users can browse and purchase eSIM bundles.

So tourist SIM card is available offline, while eSIM requires online purchase from Orange Egypt website/app by providing your passport information.

VII. How to Activate Orange Egypt SIM Card/eSIM:

7.1 How to activate and use Orange Egypt SIM card:

Follow these steps to activate your Orange Egypt SIM card after inserting into phone:

1. Insert the SIM card: Locate the SIM card slot on your device
2. Power on your device: Turn on your device and wait for it to recognize the SIM card
3. Activate the SIM card
4. Set up APN settings if you can not use the eSIM.
5. Check your balance and services

7.2 How to activate and use Orange Egypt eSIM:

To activate and use Orange Egypt eSIM, follow these steps:

1. Install the eSIM
2. Activate the eSIM
3. Set up the eSIM
4. Start using the eSIM: Once the eSIM is activated and set up, you can start using to make calls, send texts and access mobile data.

So both Orange SIM and eSIM are easy to activate by just accessing any website or scanning QR code respectively. Then recharge and use internet, calls and SMS in Egypt.

VIII. Orange Egypt Call & SMS Rates:

Here are the latest Orange Egypt prepaid rates for calls, texts and internet packs:

Call & SMS Rates

You can also get hourly and daily packs starting from 3 EGP per day. Additional data top-ups available when pack finishes.

International roaming packs from 45 EGP per day. Orange tourist SIMs with Egypt plans can’t be used outside Egypt.

IX. Useful USSD Codes for Orange Egypt SIM card/ eSIM

Orange Egypt provides several useful USSD codes to check balance, plans or recharge:

USSD Codes

So dial these codes directly on phone dialer to check Orange Egypt SIM details or recharge. Works on both physical SIM and eSIM.

X. How To Recharge/Top-up Orange Egypt SIM card/eSIM?

You can easily recharge or top-up your Orange Egypt SIM or eSIM through multiple methods:

Vouchers

• Buy top-up voucher cards from Orange stores, kiosks or shops
• Scratch card to reveal recharge PIN
• Dial *122*recharge voucher PIN# to add credit

Online Top-up

• Register your Orange Egypt SIM number on Orange website
• Recharge using international credit/debit cards
• Instant top-up, no fees

Orange App

• Install My Orange Egypt app (available on App Store and Play Store)
• Login using your SIM number
• Top-up via app using international cards

USSD Top-up

• Dial *222*Amount# (e.g. *222*50# for 50 EGP top-up)
• Confirm with your SIM PIN
• Amount gets deducted from main account balance

So you can choose the top-up method convenient for you whether vouchers, online, app or USSD recharge.

XI. Alternatives to Orange Egypt

Some alternatives mobile networks you can consider in Egypt besides Orange are:

• Vodafone Egypt – Vodafone has excellent coverage and speeds across Egypt comparable to Orange. Also has tourist SIM cards and stores at airports.
• Etisalat Egypt – Fast growing player with great 4G coverage, owned by Emirati telco Etisalat. Competitive tourist SIM packs.
• WE Egypt – Newer entrant, owned by Telecom Egypt. More budget options for calls and data. Expanding 4G network.

So while Orange is recommended for its network quality, you can also consider Vodafone, Etisalat or WE if you need more affordable options for a shorter trip.

You can also consider Egypt eSIM from GIGAGO. They offer a wide range of affordable data packages ranging from 1-30 days that are conveniently delivered digitally via email. Let’s take a look at their best plans: 

XII. FAQs

XIII. Conclusion

To conclude, Orange Egypt provides excellent connectivity across Egypt with its wide 4G coverage, high speeds and competitive prepaid data packs for visitors.

Egyt eSIM from GIGAGO is an alternative for tourists, you can stay conveniently connected throughout your trip across Egypt for calls, texting, maps, social media and more.