We asked a couple of our mariner friends as to what is the one thing they never forget when they leave for sail, and “ mobile earphone ” is the answer we received from every single one .
One of the seafarers answered, “ To be honest, a fluid telephone is one equipment which helps to restore our sanity onboard ships when all other equipment is giving us a bad time. ”
We can ’ thyroxine agree more !
life on the transport is not precisely the same as advertised on social media. The tempt highlighted by social media is merely 10 % of the liveliness on the ship whereas the rest 90 % is boredom, humdrum life and a travel with the hazard of dangerous accidents .
Some ships have Wi-Fi facility whereas others don ’ thymine. In real casing one come out of the closet of every four ships has Wi-Fi connectivity and even rare chances of call signal, so the crew on ship cut off wholly from society and friends .
During this farseeing period of their voyage, seafarers have to go through the lapp faces and surroundings for certain months or flush a year. For ships without Wi-Fi connectivity, SIM card with internet connectivity becomes a chief need so that seafarers feel near to their friends and family not only in holidays and on interface but on board besides, a phone number of SIM cards are developed by a phone number of companies with different prize plans .
So the wonder is – Which mobile SIM cards do seafarers use ? Do they buy a raw SIM circuit board at each port or Do they activate international roll on the number they use on land ( Which is outrageously expensive ! ) or buy a global sim poster ? .
We received a issue of different answers. Some said that they buy SIM cards at the ports, which are to be frequently visited by their ships ; whereas some prefer to buy mobile cards in those ports wherein the calling rates are the lowest .
Some uber-social mariner even activates international roaming on their local anesthetic numbers or take a Global sim card which will allow them to have the lapp phone act around the populace. however, they chiefly use such services to receive text messages ( which is normally free ! ) and to make pressing calls .
Considering the importance of mobile SIM cards/ international calling cards that seafarers have in their lives, we decided to make a tilt of the most normally used ball-shaped sim cards ( those which will allow them to have the same count wherever they go ) .
Note- There are hundreds of international SIM cards providing companies in the earth and it would be difficult to accomodate all of them in this article. frankincense, we are starting with the list of cards that are used by indian Seafarers or those that provide their services in India. This is NOT a sponsor article !
Though we have personally used a few of these cards, we haven ’ t tried all and thus can not comment on them. kindly use at your own hazard as some of our mariner friends have complained of impossible bills, particularly on external roll .
Which Mobile Sim Cards Seafarers Use – The Real Problem
International roaming SIM Cards or global data cards: Among these SIM cards, international roaming SIM cards top the order on the basis of quenching the need for connectivity during the ocean trip and on ports .
But owning these SIM cards is a problem in itself this is ascribable to the fact that when we travel from one state to the other, we have to keep roaming manner on. As in roaming manner network from an overseas net provider is used which has hefty roaming charges on texts, calls and data a well .
These international SIM cards provide internet services with authentic upload and downloading accelerate but the rates are quite expensive. These high gear charges make the calling balance to vanish within some seconds or minutes .
different ports have different SIM card network handiness. So one must have to replace his SIM from one to the other port which give him/her an extra burden of purchasing local SIMs at different ports .
besides sometimes the shops for these local anesthetic SIMs are not available in the vicinity so the mariner has to travel a long manner to purchase dearly-won local SIM cards. not only this but besides buying a SIM card in another area requires a big paperwork and important documents and recommendation .
Port is the best place to enjoy the newly established internet by the SIM cards purchased by the seafarers but it is not possible for a mariner to remain always on port, he has to board the ship. This is due to the reason that he has to serve many subcontract orders assigned by his officials on a ship .
Different SIM cards used by seafarers : This huge importance of connectivity necessitates the development of a not only a act of SIM cards but besides SIM cards which can be used as ball-shaped SIM cards by the seafarers .
12 SIM Cards For Globetrotters
These global SIM cards will allow the mariner to connect to anyone throughout the earth from the same issue, no matters wherever he/she is. Some normally used SIM cards by the seafarers are briefed as below :
1. Three UK SIM card: In March 2003, three UK was launched. This is a service provider which allows both telecommunication and data connectivity ampere well. It is self-sufficient in providing both 3G and 4G net services. But the extent of these SIMs developed by three UK was limited to the UK only .
In 2009 with top out advancement and by reducing charges it launched a better version of SIMs with cheaper rates of calls, textbook and data. About 71 countries enjoy the services of these three UK SIM cards without extra roll charges .
These SIM circuit board services when used in countries early than these 71 countries, extra roll charges will be incurred over call, data and text. different policies are there in different countries regarding telecommunications and besides it is not easy to penetrate your network in different countries .
thus, this is a great accomplishment in maintaining network homogeneity in 71 different countries. These countries are from Europe and the United States and referred as run roll countries. This advancement allows inexhaustible net surfboard or browse to its user without fearing of goodly roll charges .
2. iVitta: Special SIM cards developed for seafarers for establishing their connectivity to the global outside the board. The general features of iVitta SIM Cards are as follows :
- Easy top-up can be ensured quickly by online transactions.
- A large number of seafarer centres around the globe, make these SIM cards available to their users.
- It provides hassle-free and quick sign up process.
- Compatible in wrist watches along with cell phones.
- Allows phone calls, texts and data usage at regular charges over hundreds of countries. So, no burden of expensive roaming charges.
The iVitta Sim Cards are particularly crafted for seafarers, considering the communication issues they face. They are available at several mariner centres around the populace and “ top-up ” can be done on-line from anywhere.
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3. Reliance World SIM: There are thirty countries which allow release incoming calls to the person having Reliance World SIM and ensure their connectivity to the people in about 160 countries around the earth by international roll services. The general features of Reliance World SIM are as follows :
- Unbelievable low rates for SMS and calls
- Connects more than two hundred countries.
- 3G and 4G high-speed data without any monthly contracts. It implies a wide variety of plans are available with this SIM card in which you have to pay only for your usage.
- You can use a single number wherever you go so there is no need to return this SIM at different locations after the end of the voyage.
- It also allows free CUG services through which you can connect to your shipmates free of cost.
The Reliance World Sim wag claims to offer international roll services in more than 160 countries with absolve incoming calls in over 30 countries. The service providers see of 70 % less on the placard than what you would pay by activating roaming services on your own number .
4. One SIM Card: An International SIM tease supplier named One SIM Card allows roaming services in 190 or more countries at reasonable rates. other important features of One SIM calling card are as follows :
- This network provider has a wide span of free incoming calling over about 150 countries whereas messaging facility is free of cost around the globe.
- As per its name indicate it is a single permanent SIM card which can be used throughout the world.
One Sim Card is an International SIM tease supplier which offers international sim card roaming in more than 190 countries at low-cost rates. It offers dislodge incoming calls in more than 150 countries and complimentary text messages worldwide .
5. Matrix: Prepaid, deoxyadenosine monophosphate well as postpaid SIM cards, are provided by an international SIM card provider named Matrix. other salient features of these SIM cards are briefed below :
- These SIM cards allow easy and quick online top-ups. These top-ups can be done from any part of the world.
- These are the travelling cards siphoned with exiting initial data package offers.
An external SIM card supplier which offers both postpaid and postpaid SIM cards. These travelling cards besides come with a data box offer and can be recharged on-line from anywhere in the universe .
6. Airtel World Calling Card: Airtel earth calling wag has relatively short span external roll services lone in 95 countries but there is no processing tip or hidden tip for these SIM cards
Airtel World Calling Card – Airtel global calling poster offers international roll services in more than 95 countries. The card doesn ’ metric ton require any extra deposits or processing tip .
7. Clay SIM Card provider: It is an intercontinental SIM card provider which facilitates release entrance in 40 countries. other features of clay telecommunication SIM cards are as follows :
- It facilitates 24*7 customer support.
- It provides data cards, prepaid SIM cards and postpaid SIM cards and e-mail services.
- There are available unbelievable deals at local rates with these SIM cards.
- It provides same number facility round the globe.
- Cheaper country-specific and global data cards with great network speed.
8. Uniconnect: It was established in 1996 and became the first indian company to receive DoT license. other features of Uniconnect International SIM cards are as follows :
- These are the first choice for regular travellers.
- They make any local country SIM card available to us online by applying to Simple forum.
- Least paperwork and no hidden cost.
- The online top-up facility is also available with Uniconnect.
- Both pre-paid, as well as postpaid SIMs, can be provided by Uniconnect.
9. Euro Calling Cards: These are a sort of calling cards which are recharged for special plan in advance to serve the needs of seafarers .
10. BNE SIM- Global Data SIM Card: It is a cost-efficient SIM provider with 95 % cost preservation as compared to other ball-shaped SIM cards. There is no roaming tip with these SIM cards. other features of these SIM cards are as follows :
- These are used in about 170 small or big countries throughout the world today.
- BNESIM users can enjoy free calling and messaging to the other BNESIM user.
There are respective other companies which offer external sim cards for seafarers/ patronize travellers in India. It is extremely important to go through the terms and conditions, call rates and other significant data before buying an international sim calling card from any serve supplier .
11. Poginet SIM: The service providers claim it to be the best SIM card for a mariner. It is advance and developed in Europe, America, Africa, Asia & Pacific. Important features of Poginet SIM cards which make them ball-shaped choice are as follows :
- A single SIM card can be used efficiently at a number of destinations.
- These provide excellent and easy to use SIM cards.
- Reasonable data and calling packs with bonus initial credit at purchase.
12. Planet Roam Seafarer SIM: These are specially crafted global SIM cards for seafarers alone. These SIMs have lifetime cogency and available with a individual number starting from +44. In about all the countries these SIMs allow spare incoming calls and absolve intergroup calls on the transport. The rates of these SIMs and their plans are the same throughout the populace .
connectivity is the basic need of every person in the world and becomes most authoritative for a mariner who lives far from his /her family for months or class .
To quench this need of connectivity and pacify the overseas relations of seafarers with family and friends, telecommunication is the merely direction. For telecommunication all we need is a SIM wag and network connectivity. There are different SIM cards and data cards available in the market to serve the seafarers around the ball .
Some of them are Poginet SIM ; BNE SIM ; Planet Roam mariner SIM, Clay SIM, Airtel World SIMs ; Reliance global SIMs ; Matrix SIMS ; One poster SIMs and many more .
many of them allow free entrance calls and text messages throughout the world. different ports have different SIM batting order network approachability. So one must have to replace his SIM from one to the early port which gives him an extra effect of purchasing local SIMs at different ports .
But, today with the advancement of engineering even a single number can be used all around the globe. The network penetration of these SIM cards from one nation to the early is applaudable. These internet connectivity and calling facility make the global of a mariner to converge .
Over to you…
Which ball-shaped sim tease do you use while sailing ? Do you use one or do you prefer buying local sim cards at the ports you visit ? Let us know in the comments below.
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