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T-Mobile International Phone Plans – Countries, Coverage, Rates, and More

Andrew Kunesh

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Keri Stooksbury

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Breaking Down T-Mobile’s Free International Data

512 mb international day pass, 5 gb international pass, 15 gb international pass, which t-mobile data package is right for you, how to sign up for an international data package, t-mobile’s supported countries (free and paid), pros of t-mobile’s international data plans:, cons of t-mobile’s international data plans:, final thoughts.

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Having an international data plan can make international travel  a lot easier. You have instant access to maps and can keep in touch with your travel companions without worrying about purchasing a new SIM in each country.

For years there’s been 1 big issue with international data plans: the cost. Plans were expensive and had low data limits with limited coverage. Depending on your itinerary, this could have added a huge extra expense even though it may not have worked for the entirety of your travels.

Thankfully, though, that’s no longer the case.

For the past few years, T-Mobile has offered most of its post-paid customers free international data and texting in over 210 countries worldwide. And while this has a few quirks, its price-point and list of supported countries make it one of the best mobile data options for most travelers.

In this article we’ll walk you through all of the quirks and features of T-Mobile’s international data plans. We’ll take a look at the different plans available, discuss what features each plan includes, and show you which countries are supported.

By the end of the article, you should have an understanding of if T-Mobile’s international data plans are right for you.

Let’s get started!

As discussed earlier, T-Mobile includes free international data and text with 2 of its 3 smartphone plans: Magenta ® and Magenta ® Plus.

This sounds great on paper (because it is!), but there’s 1 major quirk to be aware of: your data is limited to 2G speeds at roughly 128 Kbps on the Magenta plan and 256 Kbps on the Magenta ® Plus plan.

This isn’t quite as bad as it sounds, though. Even though data is slow, it’s more than enough for using Google Maps and sending texts through WhatsApp and iMessage. However, you won’t be able to stream video, post photos, or otherwise use the internet without some serious loading time. In many cases, we’ve seen web pages actually time out and not load at all.

The good news is that there’s no data cap when you’re roaming. This means you can use as much data (and send as many texts) as you’d like, and you’ll never have to worry about an exorbitant bill at the end of a long trip abroad. However, the amount of data you’ll actually be able to use will be limited due to the plan’s exceptionally low speed.

Do note that travel to Canada and Mexico is not limited to these low speeds. Magenta ® and Magenta ® Plus plans get 5 GB of complimentary 4G LTE per month in the 2 countries, then revert to the slower speeds we discussed earlier. This means you’ll have a largely seamless experience when traveling within North America, something invaluable for business travelers and tourists alike.

While texting and mobile data are included, note that calling is still subject to an extra charge. We’ve found that most countries charge $0.20 to $0.25 per minute, with others charging slightly more. We’ll include calling costs in the supported countries table later in the article.

Buy a T-Mobile Data Pass for Faster Speeds

Need something faster than 2G data abroad? Thankfully, T-Mobile offers a variety of international data packages that let you use full 4G LTE speeds when traveling to any supported country worldwide. There are 3 of these plans currently offered and each comes with a different data limit and — naturally – price point.

Each of these plans has 1 thing in common: data packages aren’t restricted to 1 specific country. If you’re planning a trip around Europe, you can use the same high-speed data package throughout the entirety of your journey. You don’t need to worry about notifying T-Mobile or dropping extra money when crossing another border.

Additionally, each of the 3 plans includes Smartphone Mobile Hotspot at no extra charge. This means that multiple people can share 1 international data pass over Wi-Fi from the subscribed device, making it perfect for families and couples traveling together.

Here’s a look at each of the 3 high-speed data packages:

The 512 MB International Day Pass costs $5 per day and includes — as the name suggests — 512 MB of high-speed international data for 1 day.

This plan also includes unlimited calling for the day, making it perfect for keeping in touch with friends, family, and business partners back home.

The 5 GB International Pass includes 5 GB of data and unlimited calling for up to 10 days . This plan costs $35 per 10 day period, making it a great option for week-long trips around the world.

T-Mobile’s highest international data pass is the 15 GB International Plan. This plan costs $50 and lasts 30 days, giving you a whopping 15 GB of data and unlimited calling to work with.

With so many data packages available, it might seem hard to pick 1 for your trip. Here’s a quick look at why you may pick 1 plan over another.

Stick with complimentary 2G data if you…

• Only want to use maps, instant messaging, and email.
• Don’t need to download email attachments or other large files.
• Plan on being in a big city and close Wi-Fi hotspots during your travels.
• Don’t want to use your phone too much during your trip.
• Want to save money at the expense of better connectivity.
• Can use FaceTime Audio, Skype, or WhatsApp for calling.

Buy a 512 MB International Day Pass if you…

• Need to do light web browsing for restaurant recommendations, etc.
• Plan on sending a few picture and video messages on a daily basis.
• Are taking a short trip abroad.
• Need to make phone calls back to the U.S.

Buy a 5 GB International Pass if you…

• Are traveling for 7-10 days.
• Want to stream music and light video for entertainment.
• Need to browse the internet more heavily for business or leisure (during long train rides, etc.).
• Make phone calls back to the U.S.

Buy a 15 GB International Pass if you…

• Are traveling for more than 10 days.
• Plan on tethering your phone to your tablet or laptop to your phone to share its internet connection.
• Plan to be away from free Wi-Fi hotspots (countryside travel, etc.).
• Do data-intensive work and need to send files when working remotely.

Bottom Line:  Think about how you use your phone when you travel. The less you use it, the lesser of a data package you need.

Free international roaming at 2G speeds is automatically enabled. When you land in a new country, you’ll get a text message confirming that you’re in a supported country and that you’re not liable for charges (see example above).

Signing up for an international data package is simple, too. The plans don’t require any type of contract or other commitment, and you can sign up for a plan whenever you want through the T-Mobile app or website. Here’s how to add a data package through the T-Mobile app:

• Log in to the T-Mobile app on your smartphone.
• Tap Account and then tap  “Add Ons”  next to the Primary Account Holder’s field.
• Tap Manage Data & Add-ons.
• Tap the checkbox next to the pass you’d like to add to your account.
• Tap  Continue  and then tap  Change Date  if you’d like to choose a start date for your pass. If you don’t select a date, the pass will start immediately .
• Click Agree & Submit  to load the plan to your account.

That’s all there is to it. Your international data package will start on the date you set, and you can enjoy high-speed international data wherever you are in the world.

T-Mobile offers mobile data roaming in 210+ countries worldwide. You can view the entire list of countries on T-Mobile’s international travel website — just type in the name of the country you plan to visit , see if mobile data and texting are supported, and check the price of pay-as-you-go calls.

Note that most tourist-heavy countries  are supported — in fact, we’ve found it hard to find countries that aren’t supported by T-Mobile’s international data plans. However, we recommend checking before your trip regardless so you’re not met with any surprise mobile data charges.

Pros and Cons of T-Mobile’s International Data Plans

As you can see, T-Mobile offers pretty compelling mobile data plans. Before you make a purchasing decision, it’s important to take a look at the pros and cons of T-Mobile’s international plans in 1 place. So without further ado, here they are:

• Complimentary mobile data (at 2G speeds) and text messaging, great for maps and instant messaging.
• Low-cost LTE plans with a variety of data options — there’s truly a plan for everyone.
• LTE plans all include unlimited international calling.
• Expansive coverage in 210+ countries, so you can stay connected when you travel.
• Complimentary data is too slow for most online activities like web browsing and streaming.
• International calling is expensive without a premium data plan.
• T-Mobile has a spotty coverage map in the United States.

Overall, we think that T-Mobile’s international data offerings are stellar because of its diverse variety of international data plans. Those that just need maps and texting can stick to the free base plan, while business travelers and others that need faster data and mobile hotspot can upgrade to a data package.

Further, we’re also huge fans of the peace of mind you get with T-Mobile’s international plans. Since all Magenta ® and Magenta ® Plus customers get complimentary data, there’s no worrying about overage charges if you run out of high-speed data. Just make sure to keep an eye on your calling as unlimited calling is only included if you purchase a data package.

Safe travels!

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the t-mobile essentials plan come with international data and texting.

T-Mobile Essentials plan only includes 2G data in Canada and Mexico. Other countries are not included with this plan.

Can I use my cell phone in a different country?

Most modern smartphones are configured to work internationally. You may want to check your phone’s owner’s manual or call T-Mobile to check if you have an older phone or are unsure if your cell phone works outside of the United States.

Does T-Mobile offer discounts for seniors and active duty members of the military?

Yes, T-Mobile offers discounted service for those over 55 and active members of the military. These plans are called Magenta® Unlimited 55 and Magenta® Military. Check T-Mobile’s website for pricing and further details on these plans.

Can I bring my existing phone if I switch to T-Mobile?

Most modern smartphones can be brought to T-Mobile. Use T-Mobile’s compatibility tool to check if your smartphone is compatible with T-Mobile’s network.

Can I call international phone numbers with my T-Mobile smartphone?

You can, but you will pay a per-minute fee. Check out T-Mobile’s international calling page for country-by-country pricing.

Does T-Mobile offer in-flight Wi-Fi for its customers?

Yes! All T-Mobile customers get unlimited messaging (iMessage, Facebook, etc.) and 1 hour of free in-flight internet on Gogo-enabled flights. Plus, Magenta® Plus customers get unlimited in-flight internet on all Gogo flights.

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About Andrew Kunesh

Andrew was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs and now splits his time between Chicago and New York City.

He’s a lifelong traveler and took his first solo trip to San Francisco at the age of 16. Fast forward a few years, and Andrew now travels just over 100,000 miles a year, with over 25 countries, 10 business class products, and 2 airline statuses (United and Alaska) under his belt. Andrew formerly worked for The Points Guy and is now Senior Money Editor at CNN Underscored.

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T-Mobile expands travel-focused ‘Coverage Beyond’ benefits

Over the summer, T-Mobile announced its new "Coverage Beyond" suite of benefits for wireless subscribers.

The benefits, which launched June 21, include free airline Wi-Fi and expanded high-speed international data coverage, as well as other perks such as free AAA membership, booking deals on Priceline and even some limited gas discounts.

"With summer travel demand up and inflation affecting everyone, we're looking to connect our customers differently," T-Mobile's consumer senior vice president Kevin McLaughlin told TPG in an interview at the time. "We know there's a huge desire to get back to travel, and we're going to help people connect to the world better, and save money, too."

Moving forward, this coverage will now include United Airlines in addition to the three airlines — Alaska Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines — that T-Mobile launched the program with.

For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter .

Expanded high-speed international data coverage

As part of its Coverage Beyond initiative, T-Mobile will offer its Magenta MAX and Business Unlimited Ultimate plan to customers; it includes 5 gigabytes of free high-speed data at up to 5 GB speeds each month in more than 200 countries worldwide.

The expanded access will be automatic, with no opt-ins or sign-ups required.

"Our customers want to step off the plane with their phone and want it just to work," McLaughlin explained.

If those customers use up the 5GB of data, they can either sign up for a day pass for a fee or continue to use data at 256 kilobytes per second rates.

Regular Magenta customers (and those with most business plans), as well as customers with comparable Sprint plans, will automatically receive 256 KB per second for international data access worldwide. This is double the current speed; it's good enough for email, texting and basic GPS directions, but not much else.

Additionally, customers will have 5 GB of high-speed access in the 11 Deutsche Telecom-covered countries (Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania and Slovakia).

This is in addition to current free texting access in all destinations. T-Mobile customers' current benefits in Canada and Mexico (for most plans) will continue with 5 GB of high-speed data and free calls.

Related: What are the best international phone plans?

Free airline Wi-Fi

This launch is a relief for airline passengers facing high Wi-Fi fees and slow access speeds. Beginning June 21, T-Mobile began offering free high-speed streaming access on select Alaska, American and Delta flights, according to McLaughlin.

United has just announced it will join other airlines in offering free Wi-Fi to T-Mobile users. "If you're an eligible T-Mobile customer, starting this fall, you'll get free inflight Wi-Fi on all domestic and international flights," according to United's website. "Availability on flights operated by United Express will soon follow."

Details on United's program start date and eligible plans have not yet been released. It's likely that users will have to be on the T-Mobile Magenta plan to receive this service. Stay tuned for details.

The Wi-Fi access will be available on flights covering a "robust domestic market," McLaughlin explained. This will be based on specific airline carriers' technical capabilities and satellite connections. T-Mobile is currently working with multiple satellite carriers to maximize its coverage across several airlines and airplane types. Some international flights will provide T-Mobile Wi-Fi coverage.

Unlimited free airline streaming Wi-Fi connections will only be available for the full flight length if you are a customer in T-Mobile's top-tier Magenta MAX and Business Unlimited Ultimate plan. Those with equivalent Sprint plans will also benefit.

However, regular customers shouldn't fret: T-Mobile's Magenta plan and others will include free Wi-Fi connectivity for four full flights each year, with a free hour of access on any additional flights. In other words, customers using T-Mobile's existing free or discounted access for services such as Apple TV, MLB Network and Netflix will now be able to stream entertainment on select flights.

Related: What you need to know about airline wi-fi pricing

Bonus travel benefits with AAA, Priceline and Shell

T-Mobile's Coverage Beyond program isn't just for jet-setting international travelers. The company has reserved some benefits for domestic road trippers as well.

With a new partnership, T-Mobile offers free AAA membership (a $60 value) and 24-hour roadside assistance to all customers on Magenta, Magenta MAX and certain business plans. (Note: The AAA membership will auto-renew at market rates unless canceled.)

T-Mobile also included a 25-cent fuel discount at Shell gas stations through the week of Labor Day, and similar offers could be available in the future. McLaughlin told TPG that T-Mobile is expected to continue offering fuel discounts to customers "more in the 10 cents per gallon range" as part of its "T-Mobile Tuesdays" app-based rewards program.

An interesting wildcard in T-Mobile's suite of new benefits is its "T-Mobile Travel with Priceline" discount travel booking program. T-Mobile customers now have access to exclusive Priceline.com hotel and rental car deals; they can book airline tickets through the program as well.

TPG hasn't tested the booking system yet. However, customers have saved $100 per night on Hawaii hotel rooms and received $900 in discounts for a six-day Miami holiday, according to T-Mobile's press release.

Related: Gas prices continue to surge, 5 ways to save at the pump

Bottom line

T-Mobile's new travel benefits will be great for existing subscribers and could be an incentive for others to join the program or upgrade.

Many of the best features are only available for T-Mobile's top-tier (and higher-priced) plans of Magenta MAX and the Business Unlimited Ultimate. However, even regular Magenta subscribers will enjoy notable benefits such as increased airline Wi-Fi, international coverage and AAA membership.

The gas program discounts are marginal at best, but with inflation this summer, every little bit helps.

International roaming is easy with plans that allow you to use your mobile device while you are traveling outside of the United States. Find out more on this page, or check out our International roaming site for rates and additional info.

On this page:

Roaming with t-mobile, pay in advance (prepaid) while traveling, block international roaming.

• What countries are included?
• What countries are NOT included?
• Go5G, MAX and Plus plans give you up to 5GB of high-speed data in more than 215 countries and destinations at no extra charge. Go5G, Magenta, ONE, and Simple Choice plans give you up to 5GB of high-speed data in 11 European countries (Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, and Greece) at no extra charge  
• Go5G Plus, Go5G, MAX, Plus, Magenta, ONE, and Simple Choice plans give you unlimited texting and data at up to 256kpbs in more than 215 countries and destinations at no extra charge, while voice calls are $0.25/minute. ( Check calling and messaging rates .)
• Most plans offer high-speed data up to 5GB, 10GB, or 15GB in Canada & Mexico, in addition to unlimited calling and texting between the US, Mexico, and Canada. Check out our Canada & Mexico included page for more info.
• Use our International Roaming checklist to go over everything you need to know about using your phone abroad.
• You can turn on data by dialing #RON# .
• As data is used, you will receive free text messages notifying you of the incurred charges.
• If you want to turn data back off, dial #ROF# .
• If you want to prevent any accidental usage, you can also block voice, messaging, and data when roaming internationally.
• To check which plan you're on, or switch to Go5G, check out manage your plan, features, and services .

International travel with older plans

If you're not on a Go5G, Magenta, ONE Plan, Essentials, or a Simple Choice plan and you'll be traveling outside the U.S., you can add World Class International Roaming to each line. To learn how, read manage your plan, features, and services .

Higher-speed data and tethering

• The data roaming service that comes with Go5G, Magenta, ONE Plan, and Simple Choice allows you to use data for your phone, but it doesn't let you share with other devices by tethering through Smartphone Mobile Hotspot .
• If you need high-speed data or want to share data through tethering as a Smartphone Mobile Hotspot, you can add an international data pass .
• A data pass not only gives you access to the highest available data speeds depending on what country or destination you're visiting, it also provides unlimited calling (as long as you are calling to or from) 215+ supported countries and destinations (including the U.S. and Puerto Rico).

Our Pay in Advance plans let you stay in touch when traveling abroad. Find out more by visiting the Pay in Advance international roaming & rates page. Keep in mind, data usage is not available for Pay in Advance accounts while roaming internationally.

We have two options for blocking usage while traveling outside of the United States. Only the Primary Account Holder can block this service on My T-Mobile.

If you block all international roaming, you'll no longer be able to call, text or use data for the selected line while roaming outside the US. You can still use Wi-Fi for calls and text; additional charges may apply.

Block charged international roaming

If you block charged international roaming, you'll prevent your line from incurring any international data roaming charges in countries not included in your plan.

Where can I get the list of countries and destinations included in Go5G, Magenta, ONE Plan, and Simple Choice roaming?

Here is the list of countries and destinations included with your international roaming benefit:

Where can I get the list of countries and destinations which are NOT included in Go5G, Magenta, ONE, and Simple Choice Roaming?

The list of countries and destinations are not included with your international roaming benefit and are NOT eligible for international pass use. Check rates for your destination .

Qualifying plan and capable device required for certain international roaming services. Not for extended international use ; you must reside in the U.S. and primary usage must occur on our U.S. network. Device must register on our U.S. network before international use. Additional charges apply in excluded destinations; check www.t-mobile.com for included destinations (subject to change at T-Mobile’s discretion). Taxes additional; usage taxed in some countries. Voice and text features for direct communications between 2 people. Communications with premium-rate (e.g., 900, entertainment, high-rate helpline) numbers not included. Calls from 215+ countries and destinations over Wi-Fi are $.25/min (no charge for Wi-Fi calls to US, Mexico and Canada). Coverage not available in some areas; we are not responsible for our partners’ networks. Standard speeds approx. 128 Kbps. Network Management: Service may be slowed, suspended, terminated, or restricted for misuse, abnormal use, interference with our network or ability to provide quality service to other users, or significant roaming. During congestion, Essentials customers may notice speeds lower than other customers; customers using>50GB/mo. on all plans may notice further reduced speeds. On-device usage is prioritized over tethering usage, which may result in higher speeds for data used on device. Review T-Mobile.com/OpenInternet for details. Review  Terms and Conditions (including arbitration provision) at www.T-Mobile.com for additional information.

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Best T-Mobile cell phone plans in 2024

These are the best T-Mobile cell phone plans for families, seniors and anyone who needs unlimited data

• Best overall plan
• Best family plan
• Best plan for seniors
• Best for travlers
• Best for streamers
• Other plans
• T-Mobile alternatives

Is T-Mobile a good carrier?

Singling out the best T-Mobile cell phone plans should be easy. But then you look at all the options available at T-Mobile — most of which feature unlimited data — and you realize how tricky things can get.

1. The quick list 2. The best T-Mobile plan overall 3. The best value T-Mobile 4. The best T-Mobile plan for families 5. The best T-Mobile plan for seniors 6. The best T-Mobile plan for travelers 7. The best T-Mobile plan for streamers 8. Other T-Mobile plans 9. Getting T-Mobile coverage on a budget 10. Is T-Mobile a good carrier?

The good news is that T-Mobile includes plans that cost less than what competitors charge for comparable service. And you're going to get data — a lot of it — no matter which of the half-dozen or so T-Mobile plans ends up as your own. But you will have to do some searching, as not every plan is visible when you look at T-Mobile's website — you've got to keep scrolling and clicking to see every available option.

Fortunately, we've gone through all of these plans, digging into their details to see what options deliver which benefits as we look for the best cell phone plans overall. And we're happy to report that T-Mobile offers some of the best unlimited data plans out there. Need more than one line? You'll find some of the best family cell phone plans through T-Mobile, too. There's even choices for people who don't need a lot of data as well as discounts for seniors who are 55 years or older.

As complicated as sifting through the different T-Mobile options may be, your reward is a large range of prices that match up well to what rival carriers have to offer. And if you want to save even more while still enjoying the benefits of T-Mobile's network, plenty of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) such as Mint Mobile and Tello use T-Mobile towers to provide coverage of their own at discounted rates.

If you want to find a great option at T-Mobile, here are our picks for the best T-Mobile cell phone plans for a variety of different customers.

The quick list

Unlimited data for $75/month

The Go5G plan includes 5G coverage, 15GB of hotspot data and six months of Apple TV Plus. Taxes and fees are included in the $75 rate, too.

Read more below

5GB of data for $15/month

If your data needs are modest, T-Mobile connect offers you a low monthly rate for a plan that includes 5G coverage. This plan's data allotment has grown every year while the price has stuck at $15. 

Unlimited data for $180/month (four lines)

The best unlimited plan at T-Mobile is also the best plan for families, thanks to escalating discounts as you add lines. Family plans get a Netflix subscription, too.

Unlimited data for $60/month (two lines)

Seniors 55 years or older should turn to T-Mobile's Essentials Choice 55 plan for basic coverage including 5G with unlimited data. This is T-Mobile's cheapest option for seniors.

Unlimited data for $90

Globe trotters will appreciate the more expensive Go5G Plus unlimited data plan, which gives you 5G of high-speed data when traveling in 215-plus countries. In-flight Wi-Fi is included, too.

Unlimited data for $100

It's T-Mobile's most expensive plan, but streamers will find value as perks include subscriptions to Apple TV Plus, Netflix and Hulu. You can also upgrade your phone every year.

The best T-Mobile cell phone plan overall

T-Mobile Go5G | unlimited data | $75/month - T-Mobile's best plan plan With few exceptions, T-Mobile plans mean unlimited data, and the best of the bunch is T-Mobile's Go5G offering. At $75 for a single line, it features a few more perks than the slightly cheaper Magenta plan such as 15GB of hotspot data instead of 5GB and double the data (10GB) you can use when traveling in Mexico and Canada. Go5G customers are also eligible for the same upgrade offers available to new customers, making it easier to switch to a different phone. Pros: More hotspot and roaming data than Magenta; Easily to upgrade device Cons: More expensive than Magenta

Best value plan at T-Mobile

T-Mobile Connect | 5GB data | $15/month — Best low-cost T-Mobile cell phone plan T-Mobile's Connect plan is a great option if you're on a tighter budget and don't need a lot of data. The plan has grown to 5GB of data, thanks to annual boosts from T-Mobile. (Data increases end in 2025, though.) This plan only costs only $15 a month, but once you hit your data cap, you can't use any more for the rest of the billing cycle.) You can upgrade to T-Mobile's connect plan with 8GB of data instead for $25/month, while there's a 1GB option available for just $10/month. (That latter plan remains capped at 1GB.) Pros: Low costs, 500MB data boosts annually Cons: Out of data once you hit your cap

The best T-Mobile cell phone plan for families

T-Mobile Go5G | unlimited data | $180/month (4 lines) - T-Mobile's best family plan Families should also turn to the Go5G plan, as discounts for every line you add help keep the cost lower than family plans at other carriers, not to mention T-Mobile's own plans. You get the same hotspot and travel benefits a single linge of Go5G enjoys, and once you add two or more lines, T-Mobile includes a free Netflix subscription with your plan. T-Mobile frequently runs a promotion that waives the price of the third line of data, brining the cost of this plan down to $155 for four lines. Pros: More hotspot and roaming data than Magenta; Includes Netflix subscription Cons: Families an't mix and match different T-Mobile plans

The best T-Mobile cell phone plan for seniors

T-Mobile | Essentials Choice 55 senior unlimited plan | 2-line plan | $60/month — Best value unlimited senior plan If you're 55 or over, you can get a T-Mobile unlimited data plan for lower price and with a few changes to some of the perks. The best price for seniors comes with the Essential Choice 55 plan, which includes two lines of unlimited data for $60/month after a $5 price hike. (A single line now costs $30.) This comes with unlimited data, calls, and texts with no speed restrictions, 3G mobile hotspot speeds, and scam protection. However, you are limited to SD streaming, and if you're in Mexico or Canada, you can only use 2G data. Pros: Affordable price; No annual contract; 5G coverage at no extra cost Cons: Limited to 2G in Mexico/Canada; Only SD streaming

Best T-Mobile cell phone plan for travelers

T-Mobile Go5G Plus | unlimited data | $90/month or $220 for four lines - Best T-Mobile plan for travel If you do a lot of travelling, you'll want to pay up for the Go5G Plus, a super-sized offering that packs in more perks. Even single lines of data qualify for a Netflix subscription as well as Apple TV Plus, and you get 50GB of hotspot data. Travel perks includ 15GB of data for use in Mexico or Canada, plus the ability to use 5GB of high-speed data in 215-plus countries. (Data is slowed to 3G speeds after that.) In-flight Wi-Fi is also included where available. As with many T-Mobile plans, the cost of a third line of data is often waived, lowering the amount families of four need to pay. Pros: Extensive travel benefits; Free streaming services Cons: Expensive, particularly for families

The best T-Mobile cell phone plan for streamers

T-Mobile Go5G Next | unlimited data | $100/month or $260 for 4 lines Go5G Next is T-Mobile's most expensive plan, and it has all the perks of Go5G Plus. So why pay extra? If you're a streamer, you get the ad-supported tier of Hulu with Go5G Next to go along with Netflix and Apple TV Plus. Those extra streaming services can save you money elsewhere in your budget. You also get to upgrade your phone every year under Go5G Next. Pros: Lots of streaming perks; Extensive travel benefits; Ability to upgrade phone every year Cons: T-Mobile's most expensive option

Other T-Mobile plans

We're highlighting the best T-Mobile cell phone plans for particular situations, but these aren't your only option at the Uncarrier. Here's a quick summary of the other plans currently on offer at T-Mobile.

T-Mobile unlimited data plans

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

• Magenta Max ($85/month): One of T-Mobile's older offerings, this plan includes the same travel benefits as Go5G Plus, though you only get 5GB of data to use in Mexico and Canada. You're also limited ot 40GB of hotspot data.
• Magenta ($70/month): Essentially, the Magenta plan is just like the Go5G plan, but with less hotspot data (5GB instead of 15GB) and only 5GB of data when traveling in Mexico and Canada.
• Essentials ($60/month): This used to be T-Mobile's cheapest unlimited data plan, with only 3G speeds for hotspot data and few other perks. Your data speeds can be slowed if you use more than 50GB in a month.
• Essentials Saver ($50/month): If you need only one line of data and can bring your own phone, you can sign up for this cheap unlimited plan, which otherwise has the same perks as Essentials. This is the only option families can't sign up for.

T-Mobile senior plans

• Go5G Next 55 ($120/month for two lines): The senior version of Go5G Next, this plan lets you upgrade your smartphone every year.
• Go5G Plus 55 ($100/month for two lines): Anyone 55 years or older can get a discounted rate on the Go5G Plus plan, while receiving the same streaming and travel benefits included with unlimited data.

T-Mobile prepaid plans

• 12GB plan: T-Mobile's most expensive prepaid plan costs $35/month.
• 8GB plan: Like the 5GB connect plan, T-Mobile has increased the amount of data while keeping the price the same. This plan costs $25/month.
• 1GB plan: T-Mobile's cheapest prepaid plan is for people with minimal data needs. It costs $10/month.

Low-cost T-Mobile alternatives

Pricing on the best T-Mobile cell phone plans compares very well to comparable service at AT&T and Verizon , particularly when it comes to unlimited data plans. But there's a way to get T-Mobile service for even less — turn to a discount carrier that uses T-Mobile's network to provide low-cost coverage.

Such a service is known as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), and there are plenty that use T-Mobile for coverage. Our favorite happens to be Mint Mobile (which T-Mobile is actually in the process of buying). Mint offers four plans , ranging in price between $15 (5GB) and $30 (unlimited data) per month. You get those low rates by paying for your service in advance — prepaying for a year of data gets you the very best rate at Mint. A frequent promotion at Mint drops the month cost of every plan to $15 for the first three months, if you're looking for additional savings.

Mint's a popular choice because it includes full coverage on T-Mobile, including 5G speeds if you've got a comparable phone. As with any MVNO, you do risk seeing your traffic slowed if the network is congested and T-Mobile prioritizes its own customers.

Other MVNOs using T-Mobile's network include Tello , TextNow and Metro by T-Mobile. The latter service is owned and operated by T-Mobile.

T-Mobile is not just a good carrier — it's currently the runner-up in our best phone phone carriers rankings. This position comes down to a couple of benefits and factors T-Mobile does very well.

When it comes to terms of plans and offers, T-Mobile is one of the most diverse options. It offers a wide array of prices that span family plans, unlimited data choices, prepaid plans and more.

Past that, our LTE network testing showed that T-Mobile is one of the faster carriers available, and subsequent testing by third parties backs that claim. In Ookla's most recent testing , T-Mobile was rated the fastest mobile operator in the U.S. with the best download and upload speeds.

T=Mobile also ranks well in 5G performance testing by third parties, with RootMetrics currently rating T-Mobile tops for 5G speeds and availability. (Verizon's 5G is judged to be more reliable.) T-Mobile's 5G service reaches more than 330 million people and through its incorporation of Sprint, 5G speeds have increased further by adding Sprints 5G into the spectrum. T-Mobile now offers its fastest 5G to 300 million people after an aggressive upgrade program.

T-Mobile also has weekly giveaways and a host of incentives for its customers. The carrier's blend of affordability, features and coverage make it a top choice if you're looking for a wireless provider who offers something more than just a low monthly bill.

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Philip Michaels is a Managing Editor at Tom's Guide. He's been covering personal technology since 1999 and was in the building when Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone for the first time. He's been evaluating smartphones since that first iPhone debuted in 2007, and he's been following phone carriers and smartphone plans since 2015. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics, old movies and proper butchery techniques. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.

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T-Mobile’s New Internet Plan Lets You Travel With It for $160

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Frequently roadtrippin’ people with an RV or who like to camp or are stilling clinging to #vanlife, T-Mobile has a new internet plan for you. Be warned, it is not cheap if you want unlimited data.

Called “T-Mobile Away,” this is an internet plan that costs $160 per month for access to unlimited data, includes a gateway device (that needs to be plugged in), allows for up to 64 device connections at a time, will keep you connected while in-motion, and uses all of T-Mobile’s 5G and 4G network. There’s also a $110 per month version that gets you 200GB of data. Both prices require autopay.

Who really is this plan for? T-Mobile really is suggesting it’s for “frequent travelers like RVers, campers and digital nomads.” As someone who isn’t a part of that crowd today, I don’t know what it’s like to need internet on the road 24-7. In the comparison above, I can see that there are several options to choose from, but T-Mobile is saying (of course) that it’s new Away plan is the best because of its feature set. I’ll let you decide, traveling friends.

The new plan goes live May 8.

// T-Mobile

• Home Internet

Collapse Show Comments 9   Comments

• Network & Coverage
• Coverage & Signal
• T-Mobile's international travel plans vs eSims

T-Mobile's international travel plans vs eSims

• 7 months ago 17 September 2023

• First activity

eSims have gained in popularity. Our T-mobile plan includes free data while traveling in Europe (we’re U.S. based) but 25 cents a minute for phone calls is expensive. Does T-Mobile have some other International plan for phone calls and how does that compare to our getting a local eSim carrier?

• international roaming
• international travel

Actually, T-mobile’s international data pass seems competitive with other eSims. They said it’s $50 for 30 days. An eSim data & phone account from a reputable European-based firm was $54 for 20 days. Thirty days is more than I need but I’d get to use my same phone number. Am I missing something? I assume the data speeds are the same with each plan because they rely on the same local networks, yes?

• 6 months ago 2 October 2023

I will be traveling to Canada from the US on a cruise this week. We will not be purchasing the on board internet service. Do I need an international plan for the Canada ports we will be visiting?

• 5535 replies

Using cellular on a cruise ship will cost $6+ a minute and $1+ per text message.  Cruise ships use their own micro towers that connect to satellites to provide service.  You do not want to use your device in cellular mode on or within a couple of miles of a cruise ship!  

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T-Mobile unveils new 5G internet plans for enhanced home and travel connectivity

Published on April 23, 2024

• T-Mobile has announced two new 5G internet plans — Home Internet Plus, available April 26, and Away, available May 8.
• Home Internet Plus offers expanded Wi-Fi coverage and 24/7 tech support for all smart devices and costs $70/month.
• Away provides a secure Wi-Fi solution for travelers, with options for unlimited or 200GB monthly data plans.

T-Mobile has announced two new 5G Internet plans, “Home Internet Plus” and “Away.” Home Internet Plus targets a premium home internet experience with expanded Wi-Fi coverage and 24/7 tech support for smart devices. Away is designed for travelers, offering a flexible Wi-Fi solution that leverages T-Mobile’s extensive 5G network across the nation.

The company describes itself as the fastest-growing internet provider in the U.S., reporting nearly 5 million customers since the 2021 launch of its 5G home Internet service.

Home Internet Plus is designed for households that require seamless, whole-home Wi-Fi. It includes T-Mobile’s latest 5G gateway and a Wi-Fi Mesh Access Point, offering a potential coverage of up to 2,200 square feet.

Additionally, the plan includes unlimited, live technical support through a personal “TechPro.” This support covers Wi-Fi and all connected smart devices in the home, offering assistance with setup, troubleshooting, and general usage.

Pricing for Home Internet Plus starts at $70/month with AutoPay or $50/month with AutoPay and a premium voice line. It will be available beginning on April 26. Customers also benefit from T-Mobile’s Price Lock guarantee, as well as the absence of equipment fees and annual contracts.

T-Mobile’s standard Home Internet plan remains available at $40/month (premium voice plan customers) or $50/month (other voice plans). This means the Plus plan adds extended Wi-Fi and 24/7 support at an additional cost of roughly $120 per year.

Internet on the move

The Away plan is designed to keep travelers connected with a flexible Wi-Fi solution that leverages T-Mobile’s nationwide 5G network. It includes a 5G gateway that can support up to 64 devices at a time — far exceeding the capabilities of typical hotspots or using your smartphone as a hotspot.

Customers have the flexibility to choose either an unlimited data option for continuous connectivity or a plan with 200 gigabytes of monthly data. T-Mobile emphasizes the security benefits of the included gateway compared to relying on public Wi-Fi networks.

Away launches on May 8, and pricing is $160/month (unlimited data) or $110/month (200GB) with AutoPay. The plan also features T-Mobile’s signature Price Lock guarantee and a simple setup process to get you connected quickly.

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What Travelers Can Learn From Man Who Received $143,000 Bill From T-Mobile After Trip to Europe

I f you receive my travel tip newsletter , then you might remember my ordeal with T-Mobile last summer. Here's a quick recap: On my first day in Toronto, after traveling there from Los Angeles, I received a text from the phone company that said: “Free T-Mobile Msg: Final notice, your International Data Roaming charges in this bill cycle have reached $500. To avoid additional charges and possible suspension of your T-Mobile service, turn Data off. Dial #ROF# (#763#).”

It was confusing because I’ve been a loyal T-Mobile customer for about 17 years and always speak highly of them because of their generous travel plan and usually solid customer service. It was a nerve-racking ordeal, especially since I was traveling two days later for my first trip to Europe since the pandemic and if I had a huge bill from a few hours in Canada, then what kind of bill I would receive after two weeks overseas? You can read the whole story here .

However, my $500 bill looked like chump change compared to the T-Mobile bill Rene Remund of Florida received after he and his wife spent three weeks touring Switzerland.

According to Scripps News Tampa , when the couple got home, “Remund said he received his T-Mobile bill. He looked at it and thought it said $143. It wasn't until days later that he discovered the actual amount he owed. T-Mobile charged him over $143,000 for using 9.5 gigabytes of data while overseas. Five to 10 gigabytes is considered average for one month. But in this case, it was all roaming data, which cost thousands of dollars each day of his trip.”

Remund, like most consumers slapped with a ridiculous bill, immediately called T-Mobile and the representative confirmed that it was an accurate bill. What’s even crazier is that it appears the Remunds did everything right before they left on their trip; they contacted T-Mobile and alerted them of their travel plans. Remund said he visited a T-Mobile store and they said, "You’re covered."

Remund had to hire an attorney who, according to the Scripps article, “wrote letters to the president of T-Mobile but got no response. That’s when the attorney called Scripps News Tampa for help.” They contacted T-Mobile’s corporate offices and days later they credit his account for the entire amount.

That’s similar to what happened to me but at least I didn’t have to hire an attorney. I wrote an article about it and shared it on social media and received a response in minutes. It’s unfortunate that it takes the media or bad press to get executives involved to fix a bill but that’s the power of the pen.

T-Mobile told Scripps News Tampa in an email: “ We recommend our customers check the travel features of their plan, such as international data roaming, before departing ... if a customer is on an older plan that doesn’t include international roaming for data and calling, they’ll need to make sure they’re using airplane mode and wi-fi when using data to be certain the device doesn’t connect to an international network.”

My advice is to contact T-Mobile during normal business hours before you travel and make sure the agent is based in the U.S. and is knowledgeable about all your options. If you call after hours or during a high-call volume day, the call will get rerouted overseas and in my experience, some of those agents aren’t up to speed.

I always call 611 (for T-Mobile) and ask them if the places I am traveling to are covered. But it seems you might want to double check or do it online and take a screenshot so you have a written confirmation. If you're not covered, get their international plan.

When I had my T-Mobile ordeal, they sent me a text as soon as I went over my allotted limit, which was just eight hours into my trip (it later turned out to be a technical glitch) but don’t ignore those messages. You need to get this nipped in the bud immediately so you don’t have to change your travel routine or stress out about a huge bill.

And if you’re going on a cruise like I did last summer (here's my trip report ), be sure to put your phone in airplane mode as soon as you leave port. In fact, I was so nervous, I set multiple reminders, including an alarm on my phone and an automatically generated email from FollowUpThen each day, just before our scheduled departure.

Has anything like this happened to you? If the bill is high (but not outrageously so), I wonder if some customers would just pay it without even questioning it?

• Valuable Tips for T-Mobile Customers and/or iPhone Users

• Here’s What T-Mobile Customers Traveling Internationally Need to Know

• How to Get the Best Coach Seat on the Plane

• The Sleep Hack Every Traveler Needs to Know

• Never Get Your Valuables Stolen on the Beach

Want more travel news, tips and deals? Sign up to  Johnny Jet’s free newsletter  and check out these popular posts:  The Travel Gadget Flight Attendants Never Leave Home Without and  12 Ways to Save Money on Baggage Fees . Follow Johnny Jet on MSN ,  Facebook, Instagram ,  Pinterest , and  YouTube  for all of my travel posts.

Buying a Sim Card for Russia at Moscow Airport in 2024

Flying to Moscow Airport Sheremetyevo soon? Avoid on high roaming costs and buy a sim card for Russia on arrival at Moscow Airport or get yourself an e-sim card for Russia. Prepaid sim cards in Russia come with a lot of data and are cheap, but language barriers are real! E-sim cards are easier, but a couple dollar more expensive.

In this guide you can read everything you need to know before buying a sim card for Russia at Moscow Airport, where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per January 2024, my recommendation and even info about international and e-sim cards for Russia.

Staying connected is the first thing I do when I get to a new country. These days I mostly order an e-sim card online because it is so easy, but buying a local prepaid sim card is sometimes a better option.

I love to document all my travel tips for other travelers and since  I am also aiming to travel to every country in the world you can already find more than 200 sim card guides on Traveltomtom from all around the world: Europe ,  Dubai , Saudi Arabia , Pakistan , Nairobi , Johannesburg , London , Paris ,  New York , Toronto , Dominican Republic , Bogota , Panama City , Mexico City , Singapore , Hong Kong , Vietnam , Uzbekistan , Philippines , Turkey  and many more.

So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid and e-sim card advice for your next holiday destination. Bookmark me!

Buying a prepaid sim card for Russia is actually really affordable! Great value for money. When I discovered this it definitely made me smile. Who does not love cheap data?

My recommendation

Traveltomtom recommends buying a Megfon prepaid sim card at Moscow Airport for traveling in Russia. Megafon has a great prepaid sim card deal for tourists: 30 GB data + free social media for just $6 USD.

Be prepared that pretty much no one speaks English at Moscow International Airport so buying a prepaid sim card can be a hassle.

Therefore Traveltomtom definitely recommends e-sim cards for traveling to Russia. As soon as the plane lands you are online. However, there are not many e-sim cards for Russia available on the internet. SimOptions is the only e-sim provider that sells e-sim cards for Russia .

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You can also look into buying an international sim card for traveling in 2024 . Again here, SimOptions is the only provider that still offers physical prepaid sim cards for traveling to Russia.

Need some travel inspiration for Russia? Check out my  trip to Altai Mountains ! Absolutely amazing.

Best e-sim cards for Russia

The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Russia in 2024 is an e-sim card.

You order an e-sim card for your trip to Moscow on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have a Russia e-sim card installed on your phone.

Upon arrival in Moscow it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.

Airalo has recently stopped supplying e-sim cards for Russia until further notice! As of January 2024 Airalo e-sim cards for Russia are still not available.

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $5 USD
• 2 GB data for 15 days = $9 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $11.5 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $17 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $29 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $48 USD

Click here to directly order any of the above e-sim cards for Russia online or get more info.

SimOptions is currently the only e-sim provider that sells e-sim cards for Russia. Traveltomtom has used SimOptions in more than 50 countries around the world without any problems.

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $7.90 USD
• 3 GB data for 15 days = $14.90 USD
• 5 GB data for 15 days = $19.90 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $34.90 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $64.90 USD

Click here for more info or to order an e-sim card for Russia via SimOptions .

Make sure your phone is e-sim compatible before ordering an e-sim card for Russia.

You can also order a physical prepaid sim card for traveling in Russia online and get it shipped to your home address before your trip. Click on the link to get an international data sim card for Russia with 10 GB data for $49.90 USD and get more info and see all the sim card deals.

Arriving at Moscow Airport SVO

First off this airport is spread out with 6 terminals and traveling in and between the terminals takes time. There are trains that connect the terminals so if you are in transit don’t worry the transportation system is pretty well organized. But hey we are in Russia, be prepared to struggle with languages barriers.

You may think at an international airport with this status there would be a ton of people speaking English, but forget about it. Welcome to Russia!

The ladies at the information desk all spoke good English and were very helpful. A tip for when you visit Moscow, download a translate app this will make traveling in Russia much easier.

To use most translate apps that use the dictation function you need a working internet connection. Sheremetyevo Airport has very easy access to good and free WiFi but as soon as you leave the airport you would wish you had a prepaid sim card for Russia with data. So no need to explain you anymore why you should buy a Russia sim card on arrival.

Aeroexpress SVO Airport

In and between Terminal D and E there is the Aeroexpress train station, the most convenient way to get from Sheremetyevo Airport to Moscow city. Just before you enter the train station there are many mobile phone shops where they sell prepaid Russian sim card for tourists.

Mobile internet operators in Russia

The main mobile internet operators in Russia are: Tele2, Beeline, MegaFon, MTS and Yota. Apart from Yota and MTS you can buy a Russia sim card from any of the operators at Moscow Airport.

Yota is a fairly small operator with a weak 4G network in Russia and is not recommended for tourists. But especially for an MTS prepaid sim card it is a pity they don't sell them at Moscow Airport. MTS has the strongest 4G network in Russia and is the only provider that offers 5G in Russia.

Where to buy a sim card at Moscow Airport

As I said the airport is pretty big and it more or less comes down to which terminal you arrive. Most travelers from Europe will arrive at Terminal B or D so let’s have a look at buying a Russian sim card there first.

If you are about to visit Moscow then I recommend you to go to the city by Aeroexpress, a convenient train that connects Sheremetyevo Airport to Moscow city. It is located between Terminal B and D. Just before you enter the train station there are many shops lined up where you can buy Russia sim cards for tourists as well.

At Terminal F there are also shops in the arrival hall where you can buy a prepaid Russia sim card.

Buying a sim card at SVO Terminal B

Arriving at Terminal B at SVO airport makes things easy for you as there is no choice. The only available sim card for Russia is Beeline. It is impossible to miss the Beeline shop as it is straight in front of you when you walk out of arrivals.

Prepaid sim card Beeline

The picture is hard to read when you don’t speak Russian. Neither do I so I had the guy selling the Beeline sim Russia sim card explain me in his best English what everything means.

600 Rubles = $9

• 15 GB - 4G internet
• 500 minutes calling in and to Russia
• Valid for 30 days

Total costs for this package is only around $9, that is only $0,60 per GB data. I told you Russian sim cards are cheap! When arriving at Terminal B buying a Beeline sim card for Russia is worth it.

Buying a sim card at SVO Terminal D

At Moscow SVO Airport Terminal D there are two options for you. In the arrivals hall on level 1 there is TELE2 and at the departures hall level 3 you can buy a Megafon sim card.

Prices and info below are updated in January 2024. Prices are in Russian Ruble: $1 USD  = 88.5 RUB and 100 RUB = $1.13 USD.

Megafon Russia prepaid sim card

Let me tell you if it is worth going up two levels to the Megafon kiosk to buy your Russia sim here.

I went there twice as a week later I wanted to double check the information what I wrote down and both ladies spoke very little English. Service level for English speaking tourists is zero at Moscow Airport so be prepared. I used a translate app to get the following info.

There are two Megafon sim cards for tourists available:

• 20 GB + 750 minutes + unlimited texting - valid for 1 month =  750 Rubles - $8.5 USD
• 30 GB + 1,500 minutes + unlimited texting - valid for 1 month =  1,000 Rubles - $11 USD

Both packages are really great value for money!

TELE2 Russia prepaid sim card

Depending on which exit you take from the luggage belts you will either walk up to the TELE2 shop or it is on your left in the arrivals hall. At the small shop two young employees were very helpful and explained the available TELE2 sim cards fro tourists in Russia.

TELE2 Russia offers the following sim cards for tourists:

600 Rubles (400 + 200 activation costs) = $7 USD

• Unlimited calls to TELE2  numbers in Russia
• Free Facebook, VKontakte, Viber, Whatsapp
• 1 month valid

900 Rubles (700 + 200 activation costs) = $10 USD

• 30 GB - 4G internet
• 800 minutes calling in and to Russia

Looking at these Russian prepaid sim card packages I am impressed by the value for money of TELE2. Since I never really call and text anyway, a TELE2 sim card for Russia was a perfect match.

Beeline Russia prepaid sim card

There is a Beeline shop that sells the following package:

500 Rubles = $6

• Unlimited internet - 4G network
• No hotspot available
• 14 days valid
• 30 Rubles per day extra, top up credit can be bought everywhere

There is also a shop called EBPOCETb where they sell Megafon sim cards and Beeline sim cards. The guy in the shop recommended me to buy a Megafon sim card instead of Beeline. Scroll down to see 4G network coverage maps for Russia.

Buying a sim card at SVO Terminal F

In the end I headed to Terminal E and F to find the perfect Russia sim card for tourists. At Terminal E there is NO shop that sells prepaid sim cards for Russia, but in Terminal F there was a Megafon kiosk again.

Megafon sim card Russia at SVO Terminal F

Of course here they sold the same sim cards for tourists as they did at the Terminal D, but to my surprise they also sold a specific tourist package.

Megafon tourist sim card Russia

• 30 GB data + 1500 minutes + unlimited social media - valid for 15 days =  500 Ruble - $6 USD

WOW! Looking at the above I am sure you are stunned too! Free social media and on top of that 30 GB data just for $6 USD. I asked if there would be any activation costs, but nope you pay just the 500 Rubles.

For tourists traveling to Russia for less than 2 weeks this for sure is the best Russia prepaid sim card you can find at Sheremetyevo Airport. The Megafon shop is open from 09.00 to 21.00 daily and is next to the meeting point at Terminal F.

Best 4G/5G mobile network in Russia in 2024

Let’s quickly have a look at the mobile providers in Russia selling sim cards at Moscow Airport to determine who has the best 4G/5G network in Russia. For more detailed maps of the 4G/5G network coverage  in Russia have a look at the link and you can zoom in to the region in Russia you will be traveling.

Is there 5G in Russia?

No, there is still no proper 5G network in Russia in 2024. Only in the city center of Moscow there is a small 5G network available when you are having an MTS sim card. Unfortunately they don't sell MTS sim cards at Moscow Airport. If you want an MTS 5G sim card you have to go to an MTS store in Moscow city center.

Beeline  4G/5G network coverage map

TELE2 4G/5G network coverage map

Megafon 4G/5G network coverage map

Looking at the mobile internet coverage maps for Russia you can see that as of 2024 the 4G/LTE network coverage is pretty similar for each provider. However, Megafon is slightly more extensive than Beeline and Tele2 and therefore is rated as the best 4G/LTE network in Russia in 2024. 

I expect Russia to start rolling out 5G soon, but unfortunately it is hard to go through the Russian news on the internet as I do NOT speak a word Russian! ;)

Order a prepaid sim card for Russia online

With such cheap prepaid sim cards on arrival at Moscow Airport I would not directly recommend buying an international sim card for Russia. However, it makes you forget about all the hassle buying a sim card on arrival since barely anyone even speaks English.

If your phone is not e-sim compatible then look into the following if you want to order a prepaid sim card for Russia on the internet.

Arrive prepared in Russia with an international prepaid sim card. You order them online and a physical prepaid sim card will be delivered to your home address. You put this sim card in your phone and it automatically connects to an available network upon arrival in Russia, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.

SimOptions is the only sim card provider that sells physical prepaid sim cards for Russia:

• 10 GB data for 14 days = $49.90 USD

Click here for more info or to order an international sim card for Russia via SimOptions .

Also a last reminder that if your phone is e-sim compatible you can order an e-sim card for Russia online .

My experience buying a Russia Sim Card at Moscow Airport

I decided to buy a TELE2 sim card for traveling in Russia and spent $9 USD on the smallest prepaid sim package. I went on a trip to the Altai Mountains in Siberia and to my surprise I could not only use the network of TELE2, but also the Megafon network. No clue why but it worked smooth.

Another reason why I would recommend you to buy a Megafon or TELE2 prepaid sim card for Russia at Moscow Airport.

A working network connection in Russia is as you can imagine a challenge in the worlds biggest country. But overall if I had a signal the 4G speed was good, especially in cities. On the road in Siberia I mostly just had a 3G signal, which worked fine.

More about my road trip in Altai, Siberia , check out my blog about this undiscovered region in Russia!

I hope this blog about prepaid sim cards in Russia on arrival at Moscow Airport was helpful for you if you have a question please leave me a comment.

Curious what it looks like trying to visit every country in the world ? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along. As of January 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.

      View this post on Instagram       A post shared by Adventure Traveler & Blogger (@traveltomtom)

Enjoy your trip to Russia!

Some links in this article about buying a sim card at Moscow Airport are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. This is at absolutely no extra cost to you!

• altai mountains

Moscow Bus Network

Moscow's crazy traffic and its excellent metro network mean that the city's buses and trolleybuses aren't the number one option for tourists .

Moscow has hundreds of bus and trolleybus routes , many of which connect the city centre with its otherwise-isolated suburban neighbourhoods. Regular traffic jams mean that the bus network has not always been the most recommendable option , especially as the metro is so efficient. 

Having said that, new bus lanes have opened up recently making it a comfortable alternative for certain routes. The bus can be a good, economical option at night , when 13 routes replace the metro after it shuts down (all starting from Kitay-Gorod metro and taking the main roads out to the edge off the city).

More modern buses have screens indicating the stops along the route, but in older ones you may well struggle knowing where to get off if relying on the Russian-language loudspeaker announcements .

If you do decide to catch the bus, tickets can be purchased from kiosks and metro stops, and the majority of lines operate between 6 am and 1 am.

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While Moscow has an efficient public transport system, you may sometimes find it more convenient to travel by taxi and prices are usually affordable. Find fares and top tips here!

Districts [ edit ]

Central Moscow districts [ edit ]

Outlying districts [ edit ], understand [ edit ].

Moscow is the financial and political centre of Russia and the countries formerly comprising the Soviet Union. It has a population of around 13 million and an area of 2,511 square kilometres (970 sq mi) after an expansion in 2012. One-tenth of all Russian citizens live in the Moscow metropolitan area. Moscow is the second most populous city in Europe, after Istanbul , and has the most populous metropolitan area in Europe, with some 21 million residents. Moscow is in the UTC+3 time zone; there is no daylight saving time.

Many years since the break up of the Soviet Union, the economy has improved, and the modern era has brought upon a wide variety of construction projects, modern architecture and newer transport systems replacing the derelict ones during Soviet times.

Geography [ edit ]

Moscow is a large metropolis on the Moskva River, which bends its way through the city. The historical center is on the northern bank of the river. The other major waterway is the Yauza River, which flows into the Moskva east of the Kremlin.

Much of Moscow's geography is defined by the 3 'Ring Roads' that circle the city at various distances from the centre, roughly following the outline of the walls that used to surround Moscow. With Red Square and the Kremlin forming the very centre, the innermost ring road is the Boulevard Ring ( Bulvarnoye Koltso ), built in the 1820s where the 16th century walls used to be. It runs from the Christ the Savior Cathedral in south-west central Moscow, to the mouth of the Yauza in south-east central Moscow.

The next ring road, the Garden Ring ( Sadovoe Koltso ), derives its name from the fact that landowners near the road in Tsarist times were obligated to maintain gardens to make the road attractive. In Soviet times, the road was widened, and there are now no gardens there.

The Third Ring Road, completed in 2004, is not much use for tourists but is a heavily used motorway which absorbs a bit of Moscow's traffic. It roughly follows the outline of Kamer-Kollezhsky val , the customs boundary of Moscow in the 18th – early 20th century. The outer edge of Moscow is largely defined by the Moscow Ring Road (widely known by its abbreviation: MKAD-Moskovskaya kolcevaya avto doroga), a motorway which is 108 km (67 mi) long and encircles the entire city (similar to London's M25 and Paris' Périphérique ).

Climate [ edit ]

The climate of Moscow features warm summers and long, cold winters.

Get in [ edit ]

See Russia#Get in for visa requirements to Russia.

By train [ edit ]

Moscow is a railway hub, with connections to all parts of Russia and far into Europe and Asia. Due to its hub status, Moscow's train stations are often crowded; trains are the usual form of intercity transport for most Russians. The stations have a reputation for being unsafe but paradoxically the threat of terrorism has improved things: security gates, policing and surveillance deter the casual thugs and villains. Guard your valuables and yourself as you would in any big city.

All long-distance trains are operated by Russian Railways and its subsidiaries, except for a few international trains with other operators. Tickets can be bought at stations or online . For domestic trains, you can show the ticket officer your online boarding pass; however, international trains require a printed ticket. There are usually ticket counters with English-speaking personnel - they may be marked as such, or the clerk may direct you to another counter if they can't cope with your English. See Russia#By train 2 for more details on travelling in Russia by train.

From Europe [ edit ]

All trains from Europe halted since 2020

Train stations in Moscow [ edit ]

Moscow has 10 train stations, 9 of which are near metro stations close to the center of Moscow. Be sure to note the station from which your train is departing, which will be indicated on the ticket, or online . Three stations ( Leningradsky , Yaroslavsky , and Kazansky ) are on one huge square, informally known as the "Three Stations' Square". A running joke among Moscow taxi drivers since the Soviet times is to be able to pick up a fare from one of them to the other, taking the unwary tourist on an elaborate ride in circles. Be prepared for enormous queues trying to enter or exit the Metro at peak times, as people are getting off or on the commuter trains.

By car [ edit ]

Many entry points to Moscow over the Ring Road and into the city feature rotating roadblocks, where teams of traffic police may stop a vehicle, especially if it is not featuring Moscow plates. You may be stopped and questioned but you'll be allowed to proceed if you have all the proper documents.

Foreign cars, especially expensive cars, might attract unwelcome attention, and there is cumbersome paperwork involved to enter Russia by car.

By boat [ edit ]

There is no scheduled passenger service to Moscow by boat; however, cruise ships do provide service to the Northern River Terminal, on the Moscow Canal near the Khimki Reservoir. The pier is not convenient to the city and it can take over 2 hours to reach the city centre by car.

A system of navigable channels and locks connects the Moskva River with the Volga River, which is further connected to the Baltic Sea , White Sea, the Azov, the Black Sea, and the Caspian Sea. In the Soviet times this allowed the official propaganda to refer to Moscow as "a port on the five seas".

By bicycle [ edit ]

Moscow is the easternmost destination of the EuroVelo cycling routes . Eurovelo Route 2 , the Capitals Route, is a 5,500 km (3,400 mi) route starting in Galway , Ireland , passing through Dublin , London , Berlin , Warsaw and Minsk before terminating in Moscow.

By metro [ edit ]

The Metro is open from 05:30-01:00. Station entrances are closed at 01:00, and at this time the last trains depart from all of the termini stations. After 01:00, many locals will enter the train station using the exits, which are still open. Service on the ring line runs until 01:30, although entrances are closed at 01:00. The down escalators are also shut off at 01:00.

There is signage in the Metro stations in English and the Latin alphabet, but these signs are not everywhere. Each train carriage has a map in Latin script and there is one near the entrance to each station. Note the direction of the train before you alight. It is worth printing a map of the metro system in both Cyrillic and Latin letters to take with you.

All trains in the system have free WiFi onboard, but you will need to have a Russian phone number to get the authorization code to access the WiFi. Some of the older train cars are not climate controlled.

2 or 3 stations may be connected as transfer points but will each have a different name. There are 2 stations called Smolenskaya and 2 stations called Arbatskaya , but the station pairs are not connected to each other despite having the same name. Some of the stations are very deep underground, and transfer times between certain metro lines can take a lot of time. In the city centre, it can save time to go directly to the above-ground entrance of the line you want to take rather than to enter at a connecting station and transfer underground. On the escalators, stand on the right and walk on the left except for peak hours, when standing on the left side is also allowed.

Some of the train stations include beautiful architecture and it is worth taking a guided tour of the metro system. The most interesting stations in terms of decor are Komsomolskaya (ring line), Novoslobodskaya (ring line), Kievskaya (ring line), Kropotkinskaya (Line #1 - red), Kievskaya (Line #3 - dark blue), Arbatskaya (Line #3 - dark blue), Ploschad' Revolyutsii (Line #3 - dark blue), Mayakovskaya (Line #2 - dark green). Also look at the architecture of the ground entrance building of Arbatskaya (Line #4 - light blue) and Krasnye Vorota (Line #1 - red). History buffs may appreciate that Metro Line #1 (red) has the oldest stations, opened in 1935.

The Vorobyovy Gory Metro Station on Line #1 (red) is unique in that it is on a bridge crossing the Moscow River. This bridge also carries auto traffic road on another level. There is a beautiful view through the transparent sides of the station. A great observing point around Moscow is located nearby on Vorobyovy hills, next to the main building of Lomonosov Moscow State University.

There are a couple of unique trains operating through the system and you will be lucky if you get to ride them. Aquarelle (Watercolor) is a train that includes an art gallery. The train operates daily on Line #3 (dark blue). The Sokolniki Retro Train is a train modeled after the original 1930s trains and it occasionally is placed into service, usually around a major anniversary of the metro system.

The metro is relatively safe, although pickpockets are a problem, as they are in any environment where a lot of people are pressed together. Opportunistic petty crime, such as snatching someone's mobile phone and jumping out just as the doors are closing, is also commonplace. Take the usual precautions at night when gangs of inebriated teenagers may look for an excuse to beat someone up. There is no train guard or conductor, so the first car near the driver may be the safest. Every car is equipped with an intercom to the driver's cabin; they are beige boxes with a grill and a black button near doors, and mostly work, unless visibly vandalized.

By tram [ edit ]

There are several tram routes, although trams are not common in the city centre.

By monorail [ edit ]

Moscow Monorail is a 4.7 km (2.9 mi) monorail line with 6 stations. It is slower, less frequent, and has shorter operating hours when compared with the metro (every 30 min, 08:00-20:00). However, the view is picturesque. It is useful to get to the Ostankino Tower, or to get to the VDNKh exhibition centre from Metro Line #9 (silver). Interchanges between Moscow Metro and Monorail is free, no additional fee will be charged.

By hop-on-hop-off bus [ edit ]

The hop-on-hop-off bus is a convenient way for tourists to see the major sights quickly and efficiently. The buses feature English-speaking guides to answer any questions. A 1 day pass costs $24 for adults and $15 for children.

See [ edit ]

Do [ edit ].

Moscow has many attractions, but many of them are not friendly to a non-Russian-speaker. English-language newspapers like The Moscow Times , Element [dead link] , Moscow News and others can help to navigate towards English-language friendly attractions and services.

Circuses [ edit ]

Theatres [ edit ].

• Bolshoi Theatre , one of the oldest and best known ballet and opera companies in the world.

Learn [ edit ]

Moscow remains the educational center of Russia and the former USSR. There are 222 institutes of higher education, including 60 state universities & 90 colleges. Some of these offer a wide-spectrum of programs, but most are centered around a specific field. This is a hold-over from the days of the USSR, when Sovietwide there were only a handful of wide-spectrum "universities" and a large number of narrow-specialization "institutes" (mostly in Moscow & St.Petersburg). Moscow offers some of the best business/management, science, & arts schools in the world. Moscow is also a popular destination for foreign students to learn Russian.

Work [ edit ]

You will need a work visa which is not an easy process. The visa needs to be arranged well in advance of traveling. It is possible to work in Moscow, you just need to find a good company to support you. The main obstacle for many foreigners will be a mandatory Russian language exam required to obtain a work permit.

Shopping malls [ edit ]

Large shopping malls are common near metro stations.

Tipping [ edit ]

For information on tipping in restaurants, see Russia#Eat .

Ethnic food [ edit ]

Authentic ethnic food from countries of the nearby Caucasus ( Azerbaijan , Georgia , Armenia ) is common in Moscow. Japanese food, including sushi, rolls, tempura, and steakhouses are very popular in Moscow. Other Asian cuisines including Vietnamese, Thai, and Chinese are becoming increasingly more common.

Budget [ edit ]

Street food [ edit ].

Free-standing kiosks serving sausages, meat pies, or kebobs are plentiful, although the origins of the meat served is questionable and the food has been known to occasionally make people sick.

Muscovites are also fond of their ice cream, consumed in any weather, even in the dead of winter, cheap and usually of superior quality; kiosks can be found all over the center and near all Metro stations.

Foodcourts 2.0 [ edit ]

This term is used in articles by local food critics: since 2016, several special food courts were opened with independent and small food chains, for those people who get bored of McDonald's-like food. They offer a wider choice of cuisines.

Clubs [ edit ]

Nightlife in Moscow is bustling, intense and exciting. It starts quite late; it's common for the headliners to start at 02:00-02:00. Most noticeable are areas near Solyanka street and Krasniy Oktyabr' place. At summer time a lot of clubs opening open-air terraces called "verandas". Most of clubs in Moscow are very picky of who they let in, so make sure you have a positive attitude and dress up if you are going to a fancy club.

Gazgolder [dead link] (not far from Kremlin) is among the best.

Cafes [ edit ]

Moscow has several café chains with great coffee including Coffeemania and Coffee Bean [dead link] . Moscow also has a good selection of tea saloons. High-quality infusion teas such as Newby, are widely available in cafes, both in packets and loose.

Asking to add boiling water to the tea you ordered earlier is a practice that some cafes don't welcome, but normally it's acceptable.

Sleep [ edit ]

Stay safe [ edit ].

Moscow enjoys a relatively low crime rate.

Drunk people are the most likely sources of problems. In the past years, lots of policemen were corrupt, and it was best to avoid them. Nowadays Moscow has a Tourist Police force, whose officers are able to speak foreign languages and help tourists. Police officers are equipped with body-cameras.

It is preferable to avoid some parts of the outer districts of Moscow, especially in the south. Some of those areas are notorious for gopniks (drunkards notorious for muggings and starting fights with strangers, and will do so seemingly unprovoked), who normally hang out in sparse residential areas and in industrial zones. The same problems can be witnessed in the surrounding regions and in other Russian cities as well.

While traveling in Moscow, as in the rest of Russia, you should always have your passport with you. If you look non-white, your papers may get checked more often than otherwise. The police may demand to see your papers to check if you have been registered within 7 business days of your arrival into Moscow. Always remember that if you stay in a hotel then you are automatically registered and will be handed a confirmation paper at a time of check-in, so don't worry in this case. The police are usually looking for migrants from Central Asia and unless you fit this profile, you are unlikely to be questioned.

Women should take caution walking alone late at night since they may receive unwanted attention from drunk men. Women should also stay clear of large companies of men in front of bars, restaurants, etc. It is best to walk with a friend if possible.

Streets can become very slippery in winter. Wear shoes or, even better, boots with decent grip to prevent twisted ankles. Ice patches can be hard to spot. A waterproof raincoat is also sensible.

Traffic is poorly handled, and vehicle accident rates are very high.

If you need help with translation, ask students or pupils: younger people are more likely to be able to help you than the older generations.

Connect [ edit ]

For information on using telephones and buying SIM cards in Russia, see Russia#Connect .

Mobile Internet is quite affordable in Russia, but you have to buy Russian SIM-card first.

Wireless Internet [ edit ]

Moscow Metro has Wi-Fi in all trains. It is ad-supported.

Mosgortrans has Wi-Fi spots on every bus, trolleybus and tram. Also sometimes you can find Wi-Fi spot on a public transport stop.

Beeline Wi-Fi [dead link] operates the largest network of both paid and free Wi-Fi access points. If there is a charge, you can pay online via credit card.

There is a large network of free Wi-Fi hotspots in the city centre; check your device in the middle of a busy area and you may find one.

Many cafes and restaurants offer Wi-Fi - ask for password. Most bookstores offer free Wi-Fi, including "Dom Knigi" on New Arbat Street or "Respublika" bookstore on Tverskaya near Mayakovskaya Metro Station.

Some establishments that offer free Wi-Fi may require you to verify an authorization code sent to a Russian phone number before gaining access, but for the most part, foreign numbers also work as of 2016.

Cope [ edit ]

Embassies [ edit ].

Moscow is one of the global diplomatic capitals, competing with Berlin , Brussels , Beijing , Paris , London , Tokyo and Washington D.C. . Most of the world's countries have their embassies in the city.

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Moscow-City: 7 surprising facts about the Russian capital’s business center

1. Guinness World Record in highlining

The record was set in 2019 by a team of seven athletes from Russia, Germany, France and Canada. They did it on September 8, on which the ‘Moscow-City Day’ is celebrated. The cord was stretched at the height of 350 m between the ‘OKO’ (“Eye”) and ‘Neva Towers’ skyscrapers. The distance between them is 245 m. The first of the athletes to cross was Friede Kuhne from Germany. The athletes didn't just walk, but also performed some daredevil tricks. Their record is 103 meters higher than the previous one set in Mexico City in December 2016.

2. Domination of Europe's top-10 highest skyscrapers

7 out of 10 Europe’s highest skyscrapers are located in Moscow-City. Earlier, the  ‘Federation Tower’ complex’s ‘Vostok’ (“East”) skyscraper was the considered the tallest in Europe.

Left to right: the lower of the ‘Neva Towers’ (296 m), Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt (300 m), Gorod Stolits (“City of Capitals”) Moscow tower (302 m), Eurasia tower (309 m), The Shard’ skyscraper in London (310 m), Mercury City Tower (339 m), Neva Towers (345 m).

However, in 2018, the construction of the 462 meter tall ‘Lakhta Center’ in Saint-Petersburg was completed, pushing ‘Vostok’ (374 m) into 2nd place. The 3rd place is taken by OKO’s southern tower (354 m).

3. The unrealized ‘Rossiya’ tower

If all the building plans of Moscow-City were realized, the ‘Lakhta Center’ in St. Petersburg wouldn't have a chance to be Europe's highest skyscraper. Boris Tkhor, the architect who designed the concept of Moscow-City, had planned for the ‘Rossiya’ tower to be the tallest. In his project, it was a 600 meter tall golden cylindrical skyscraper ending with a spire that was inspired by traditional Russian bell towers. Then, the project was reinvented by famous British architect Sir Norman Foster. He had designed ‘Rossiya’ as a pyramid ending with a spire. The skyscraper itself would have been 612 meters tall, and the height including the spire would have reached 744,5 meters (for comparison, the ‘Burj Khalifa’ in Dubai, UAE, would have been just 83,5 meters taller). Unfortunately, the investors faced a lot of economic problems, due to the 2008 financial crisis, so the ‘Rossiya’ skyscraper was never built. A shopping mall and the ‘Neva Towers’ complex was constructed at its place in 2019.

4. Changed appearance of ‘Federation Tower’

In its first project, the ‘Federation Tower’ was designed to resemble a ship with a mast and two sails. The mast was to be represented by a tall glass spire with passages between the towers. It was planned to make a high-speed lift in it. The top of the spire was going to be turned into an observation deck. But the ship lost its mast in the middle of its construction. Experts at the Moscow-city Museum based in the ‘Imperia’ (“Empire”) tower say, that the construction of the spire was stopped, firstly, due to fire safety reasons and secondly, because it posed a threat to helicopter flights – the flickering glass of the spire could potentially blind the pilots. So, the half-built construction was disassembled. However, an observation deck was opened in the ‘Vostok’ tower.

5. Open windows of ‘Federation Tower’

We all know that the windows of the upper floors in different buildings don’t usually open. Experts say that it’s not actually for people’s safety. Falling from a big height is likely to be fatal in any building. The actual reason is the ventilation system. In a skyscraper, it’s managed with a mechanical system, and the building has its own climate. But in the ‘Zapad’ (“West”) tower of the ‘Federation Tower’ complex, the windows can open. The 62nd and last floor of the tower are taken up by a restaurant called ‘Sixty’. There, the windows are equipped with a special hydraulic system. They open for a short period of time accompanied by classical music, so the guests can take breathtaking photos of Moscow.

6. Broken glass units of ‘Federation Tower’

The guests of the ‘Sixty’ restaurant at the top of the ‘Zapad’ tower can be surprised to see cracked glass window panes. It is particularly strange, if we take into consideration the special type of this glass. It is extremely solid and can’t be broken once installed. For example, during experiments people threw all sorts of heavy items at the windows, but the glass wouldn’t break. The broken glass units of ‘Zapad’ were already damaged during shipment . As each of them is curved in its own way to make the tower’s curvature smooth, making a new set of window panes and bringing them to Russia was deemed too expensive . Moreover, the investors had financial problems (again, due to the 2008 financial crisis), so the ‘Vostok’ tower even stood unfinished for several years. Eventually, the cracked window panes were installed in their place.

7. The highest restaurant in Europe

‘Birds’, another restaurant in Moscow-City, is remarkable for its location. It was opened at the end of 2019 on the 84th floor of the ‘OKO’ complex’s southern tower. Guests at the restaurant can enjoy an amazing panoramic view at a height of 336 meters. On January 28, the experts of ‘Kniga Recordov Rossii’ (“Russian Records Book”) declared ‘Birds’ the highest restaurant in Europe, a step toward an application for a Guinness World Record.

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The 10 Best Things We Saw at Salone del Mobile

From an exhibition in a 1940s-era Modernist house to a blood-red sofa, the highlights of Milan’s annual design fair.

A Mario Bellini for Tacchini Le Mura sofa remade in Gucci’s new signature shade of red, Ancora Rosso, on view in the fashion brand’s Milan flagship store. Credit... Courtesy of Gucci

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By Monica Khemsurov

• April 19, 2024

The annual Salone del Mobile furniture fair has always been big — it’s the event of the year for the international design world, drawing hundreds of thousands of makers, curators, editors and buyers to Milan each April for a week’s worth of inspiration, shop talk and aperitivi. Even more so than fashion week, the fair consumes the city. But this year’s edition seemed to buzz with a new level of excitement, with more people from outside the design industry joining the throngs and hourlong lines forming outside events like the launch of the French luxury brand Hermès’s interiors collection, the annual installation by the Milanese architecture firm Dimorestudio and the satellite fair Alcova’s takeover of the Modernist architect Osvaldo Borsani’s former home — this despite the house being a 45-minute drive north of the city center. Luckily, there were so many interesting presentations on view that braving the crowds felt well worth it. Here, 10 standouts.

Formafantasma’s Floral Chairs and Futuristic Lights

One of the most talked-about openings of the week was the Milan-based design duo Formafantasma’s solo show at the Fondazione ICA Milano, for which the pair — Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin — drew on memories of their childhood homes in Italy to create surprising hybrid chairs and lamps that pair steel armatures with colorful wood, frilly fabrics and hand-painted or embroidered floral motifs. The aesthetic was institutional furniture meets Italian grandma’s house. Formafantasma also debuted a new series of utilitarian but delicate lights for Flos made from LED strips enclosed in thick glass panels.

A New Furniture Line From Dimorestudio

Once people began posting photos on social media of the launch of Interni Venosta, a new furniture brand from Britt Moran and Emiliano Salci, the founders of Dimorestudio, the line’s exhibition quickly became a must-see — partly for its pairing of bold minimalist forms with luxe materials like walnut and steel, and partly because it was presented in an extremely photogenic local plaster workshop. The brand’s name pays homage to the cult Italian designer Carla Venosta, who created modernist furniture and interiors in the 1970s and ’80s.

Gucci’s Blood-Red Design Icons

Having recently redone part of Gucci’s Milan flagship store entirely in a deep oxblood red, the brand’s creative director, Sabato De Sarno, partnered with five Italian design companies to reimagine some of their classic pieces in the house’s new signature color, Ancora Rosso. The lineup, installed for the week on the store’s second floor — inside a lime-green carpet maze created by the Spanish designer Guillermo Santomà — included Gae Aulenti and Piero Castiglioni’s Parola lamp, Nanda Vigo’s Storet cabinet, Mario Bellini’s Le Mura sofa, Tobia Scarpa’s Opatchi vase and a new rug created by Nicolò Castellini Baldissera based on motifs by his great-grandfather Piero Portaluppi. Each item will be produced in a limited edition of 100.

A Takeover of a Modernist Architect’s Fomer Home

Since its inception in 2018, the Alcova satellite fair has become the place to discover new talent during Salone. This year, it occupied two historic mansions outside the city: the 19th-century Villa Balgatti Valsecchi and the 1945 Villa Borsani. The latter venue, the former residence of the architect Osvaldo Borsani, was the hotter ticket and featured pieces like a two-tone wood room divider by Anthony Guerrée for Atelier de Troupe, a family of marble tables with columnar legs by Agglomerati and Tino Seubert and a suite of galvanized-steel office furniture by the Russian designer Supaform, which was exhibited in Borsani’s onetime home office.

A Dispatch From the Americas

Hidden down a long, dark hallway directly next door to Hermès’s big Salone presentation was “Origen,” a comparatively understated show of works by four up-and-coming Latin American(-ish) designers for the New York- and Mexico City-based Unno Gallery. Among the pieces on display were brown lacquer desks and shelves with reverse-waterfall legs by Mark Grattan, an American designer who was based in Mexico City for many years, and a series of glittering stools and mirrors, covered in crushed iridescent seashells, by the Colombian designer Andrea Vargas Dieppa (a co-founder of the 2010s-era shoe brand Dieppa Restrepo).

Unusual Lamps Commissioned by Loewe

For its eighth and biggest Salone exhibition, the Spanish luxury house Loewe commissioned 24 artists and designers from around the world to create lamps in materials and styles of their own choosing. The results range from the futuristic (a tangle of neon tubes by the London-based artist Cerith Wyn Evans) to the eccentric (a miniature storefront with metal shutters and a pull cord by the London-based painter Alvaro Barrington) to the rustic (an ancient-looking ceramic vessel punched with holes, and lit from within, by the Japanese artist Kazunori Hamana).

Interesting Beds From a Georgian Design Duo

Eye-catching beds are a true rarity in the design world, which is why there was so much interest this week in an exhibition of six of them, all produced by the Tbilisi, Georgia-based firm Rooms Studio — founded by Nata Janberidze and Keti Toloraia — in materials ranging from chunky wood to thin steel tubes with steer-head finials. The design duo were inspired to focus on the oft-overlooked category by their struggles to source great bed frames for their own interiors projects.

Dolce & Gabbana’s Next Generation of Design Talents

The Italian fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana’s second annual Gen D project reflects the company’s commitment to supporting young talent both within and beyond the fashion world. For the ambitious group exhibition, the house enlisted the Italian curator Federica Sala to pair 10 international designers with sixteen Italian craft workshops. Among the resulting pieces are interesting stylistic and cultural mash-ups like the Chinese designer Jie Wu’s wild, squiggly vessels, which feature Chinese and Sicilian good-luck motifs and are coated in classical Venetian enamel.

Close-up Photographs of Modernist Interiors

In a simple but memorable exhibition mounted in one of the tunnels that flanks Milan’s central train station, the Czech writer, curator and photographer Adam Štěch — along with his colleagues Matěj Činčera and Jan Kloss — displayed over 3,000 photos of details from famed Modernist homes and buildings. In shooting the photos, which he’s shared on his Instagram account, @okolo_architecture , over the years, Štěch focused on interiors and furnishings that were custom-made for each project by their architects. It was easy to get lost in the show, poring over doorknobs, stair rails and lamps from around the world.

A Circular Ping-Pong Table

The exhibition “Design Duo Double Feature,” also curated by Federica Sala, was a thoughtful example of a materials brand commissioning designers to show off the potential of its products: The six pieces in the show were all made from the acrylic-resin surface material Fenix and designed by up-and-coming Italian studios like Cara \ Davide, Mist-O and Zanellato/Bortotto. A standout was the Match table by Martinelli Venezia, a circular two-tone Ping-Pong table whose “net” is formed from a tenting of its top.

Explore T Magazine

A Party In Milan:  To toast the Salone del Mobile and the 20th anniversary of T Magazine , the designer Ramdane Touhami transformed the Villa Necchi Campiglio into an ode to the letter T.

A Beloved Copenhagen Cafe:  The chef Frederik Bille Brahe has transformed the Apollo Bar & Kantine into his version of a fine dining restaurant , and celebrated with a meal for his family and collaborators.

The Beginners Issue:  From debuts to do-overs, what it means to start an artistic life  — at any age

We Saw at Salone del Mobile:  From an exhibition in a 1940s-era Modernist house to a blood-red sofa , these were the highlights of Milan’s annual design fair.

Hawaii’s Favorite Shave Ice Shops:  Cups of flaky ice topped with flavored syrups are easy to find in the state. But the best shops set themselves apart with fresh ingredients  and old-school charm.

Ellen Gallagher’s Futuristic Archives:  In an interview, the artist discussed marine life  and African American myth from her studio in the Netherlands.

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T-Mobile Rolls Out Two New Internet Plans to Give Customers Enhanced Options for Home and On the Go

The Un-carrier is introducing new plans to meet customers' connectivity needs — a premium plan with boosted coverage and support and a plan to keep campers and RVers connected — all powered by T-Mobile's leading 5G network

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BELLEVUE, Wash. — April 23, 2024

• What’s the news: T-Mobile is launching two new internet plans — a premium version of Home Internet called Home Internet Plus and the Away plan for frequent travelers — to empower customers with more internet options for home and on the go.
• Why it matters: When the Un-carrier launched 5G Home Internet in 2021 to give people an alternative to traditional broadband, it rattled Big Internet companies — and things haven’t been the same since. Now, as the fastest growing internet provider in the United States, with nearly 5 million happy customers and counting, T-Mobile is launching new plans to better serve customers’ unique needs and keep them connected the way they want.
• Who it’s for: Everyone who wants to get more out of their internet experience.

T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) is shaking up the internet scene (again!) today, introducing two new plans to tackle broadband pain points – Home Internet Plus, the all-in-one plan with expanded home Wi-Fi coverage and 24/7 support for smart devices, and Away, the flexible Wi-Fi solution for travelers to stay connected nationwide on T-Mobile’s network.

T-Mobile is the fastest growing internet provider in the U.S. and continues to disrupt the industry with broadband solutions that are backed by its leading 5G network , which just keeps getting faster and more powerful . Following another industry-leading year, T-Mobile is giving customers new plans that cater to different lifestyles, keeping them connected the way they want.

“T-Mobile is doing what we do best, listening to customers and offering new plans to meet their needs,” said Allan Samson, Chief Broadband Officer, T-Mobile. “Customers are demanding better choices and innovative connectivity, and these new plans deliver. Whether it’s expanding your home Wi-Fi signal to cover more spaces and connected devices, or taking the internet with you on the road, T-Mobile has the internet options that fit your needs — and it’s all backed by the nation’s leading 5G network.”

Home Internet Plus: A Premium Plan with Comprehensive Wi-Fi Coverage

Home Internet Plus makes it easy to get reliable connectivity at home at a time when people are more online than ever. Today 95% of adults in the U.S. are using the internet compared to just over 75% in 2010. And more people are also using smart devices to conveniently connect and improve their digital lives at home, so T-Mobile put together an all-in-one solution to keep customers and their devices connected with ease.

Home Internet Plus comes with:

• T-Mobile’s latest 5G gateway and a Wi-Fi Mesh Access Point included. Expand the Wi-Fi signal across the home and in hard-to-reach places, with up to 2,200 square feet of additional coverage. For households with heavier internet needs, mesh can intelligently adjust coverage to where it’s needed most, so parents can seamlessly work in the home office while the kids are gaming downstairs —no more dealing with multiple Wi-Fi networks with different nicknames and passwords. Plus, it can extend the signal outside for those outdoor movie nights or to better connect outdoor security cameras.
• Unlimited live 24/7 tech support for any Wi-Fi or smart connected devices in the home, delivering even more value to customers. With Assurant® Personal TechPro , customers can get help setting up, connecting and troubleshooting all the connected devices in their home. Live experts can provide interactive support over the phone, on chat and even through screen and camera sharing for step-by-step help. From backing up photos from a phone to a laptop, to setting up a smart TV with the latest streaming app, adjusting the notifications on a smart doorbell and more, it’s one simple contact to help keep customers and their devices connected across the home.

Plus, it all comes on top of the great benefits T-Mobile Home Internet is known for — like Price Lock, guaranteeing that T-Mobile won’t raise customers’ rate for internet or their last month of service is on us (taxes and fees excluded), no equipment fees or annual contracts and simple self-setup to go from box to browsing in 15 minutes or less. T-Mobile Home Internet is fixed wireless that leverages the power of the Un-carrier’s 5G network, the largest and fastest 5G network in the U.S . and the same great network that connects wireless customers. It’s currently available to more than 50 million homes nationwide and is only offered in places with capacity to provide a good experience to all customers – both Home Internet and wireless.

Other internet providers make customers buy add-ons to get the same benefits, but at T-Mobile it’s all included in one plan. Home Internet Plus is the only plan from a top provider that includes a mesh device and unlimited tech support for connected devices.

Home Internet Plus is available starting April 26 and is $70 a month with AutoPay, or just $50 a month with AutoPay and a premium voice line.

Away: A Wi-Fi Solution for Travelers

For years, frequent travelers like RVers, campers and digital nomads have been left with inadequate options for Wi-Fi. And these days, RVing and camping is at an all-time high, with over 15 million households going on an RV trip in recent years and nearly 59 million going camping . More campers are also working during trips, with 40% saying Wi-Fi has a great deal of impact on their ability to camp more often.

Away is a Wi-Fi plan for frequent travelers to stay connected nationwide across T-Mobile’s network — which is just about everywhere since T-Mobile’s 5G network covers two million square miles — more than AT&T and Verizon combined.

Away comes with:

• A 5G gateway included at no extra cost. Connect up to 64 devices at a time — double a typical hotspot and six times as many as smartphone tethering. Plus, the gateway comes with the latest security features like WPA3, so customers can say goodbye to public Wi-Fi networks and rest assured in the safety and security of their connection.
• An unlimited data option. Stay connected while traveling without overages or a cutoff.
• Simple setup. Plug in the gateway, download the app and start browsing in 15 minutes or less.
• Price Lock. Customers can lock in a monthly rate and enjoy peace of mind knowing that if T-Mobile ever raises the rate, they can get their last month of service refunded. Exclusions like taxes and fees apply.

Away is available starting May 8, just in time for the summer travel season. Customers can choose between unlimited data for $160 a month with AutoPay or 200 gigabytes of data for $110 a month with AutoPay.

The Un-carrier Difference

5G Internet at T-Mobile uses the power of the Un-carrier’s 5G network , the largest, fastest and most awarded 5G network in the U.S. And it keeps getting better.

T-Mobile launched its 5G Home Internet service nationwide in 2021, and customers have flocked to the service ever since, making T-Mobile the fastest growing home internet provider in the U.S. And it’s no wonder they’re making the switch — internet customers are some of the unhappiest around, ranking ISPs dead last in customer satisfaction and even coming in below airlines and health insurance providers. But T-Mobile is flipping the script on internet customer satisfaction, because putting customers first is in T-Mobile’s DNA. A recent study even found that T-Mobile 5G Home Internet customers are overall happier than traditional cable internet customers.

Starting April 26, visit www.t-mobile.com/home-internet-plus for more information on Home Internet Plus and to see if it’s available at your address. Visit www.t-mobile.com/home-internet-away starting May 8 for more information on Away.

Follow @TMobileNews on X, formerly known as Twitter, to stay up to date with the latest company news.

During congestion, customers on these plans may notice speeds lower than other customers and further reduction if using >1.2TB/mo., due to data prioritization. For Away, expected speeds will provide video streaming at HD quality in most areas. Plus not available in all areas; Away available across T-Mobile 4G and 5G networks with no off-net roaming. Plus for in-home use at location provided at activation; Away not for extended use in the same location. $35 device connection charge due at sale. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. AutoPay Pricing for lines 1-8 on account; requires bank account or debit card, otherwise $5 more/line/mo. Price Lock guarantees accounts with qualifying service can keep their regular monthly rate plan price for new lines of fixed-wireless internet data; excludes taxes/fees, select limited-time promotions, per-use charges, third-party services, devices, and network management practices. T-Mobile will pay your final monthly recurring service charge if we raise your rate and you tell us you are leaving within 60 days. See 5G device, coverage, & access details at T-Mobile.com.

About T-Mobile T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is America’s supercharged Un-carrier, delivering an advanced 4G LTE and transformative nationwide 5G network that will offer reliable connectivity for all. T-Mobile’s customers benefit from its unmatched combination of value and quality, unwavering obsession with offering them the best possible service experience and undisputable drive for disruption that creates competition and innovation in wireless and beyond. Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Sprint. For more information please visit: https://www.t-mobile.com

Media Contacts

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