In Yemen there are 4 mobile phone networks:

• Yemen Mobile : CDMA
• MTN (previously called Spacetel) : GSM
• Sabafon : GSM
• Yu : GSM

All Yemen GSM networks operate on 900 mhz so make sure your phone is at least dual band and covers this frequency…all European handsets do and most others will if they are ‘tri-band’.

I do not use a ‘foreign’ CDMA phone in Yemen so i dont know how roaming works. I do however use a locally bought CDMA phone which cost about $90. However i do know that if you have a spare VERIZON phone it can be hacked to work on the CDMA network here by reprogramming the ESN. If you want to do this contact Matt at Anisa Yemen

To use mobile data services e.g. GPRS you will need to have a post paid contract. This is set-up in the same way as aprepaid contract but you have to pay a larger deposit – usually about 10,000 riyals.

If you want your Yemen SIM card to roam on a foreign network e.g. your home network so you can receive text messages and calls you will also need to take a post paid contract.

GPRS roaming for Blackberry use is a bit hit and miss.

Related Articles:

• Mobile Internet in Yemen
• Getting a Local SIM in Yemen