Bamako - 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?
Use a local provider. Google-fi doesn't work here. You can buy Orange phone cards on the street anytime to plus up. - Apr 2017
You can get pretty good coverage from Orange and they have fast data plans. Malitel is a joke. 50% of calls dialed on Malitel get dropped. - Aug 2014
Everybody has a cell phone. You have Orange and Malitel to choose from. - Jul 2011
Orange is slightly more reliable than its competitor, Malitel. If you're with the US Embassy, you will be issued a cell phone with Malitel as the carrier. - Oct 2010
Get one here. They use GSM.There's no blackberry service in country - May 2010
Bring your tri- or quad-band GSM from the States or Europe and have it unlocked here. The embassy gives direct hires phones, so you can just drop your SIM chip into it. If you don't get one (like spouses), just buy a SIM chip and then purchase pre-paid cards from from the ubiquitous recharge card hawkers on every corner. - Sep 2009
No - SIM cards and credit readily available on every street corner. - Apr 2009
Work provides mine and there is reception in most parts of the country. - Feb 2009
Embassy provided mine. My husband got a Mali SIM card. It was helpful. - Feb 2009
Plenty around town and service seems good. You basically only have Orange and Malitel with very little difference between the two. - Jan 2009
