Can you use your American SIM in Nigeria? The Ultimate Travel Guide

Recently, someone asked me if she would be able to use her American SIM card in Nigeria. She was planning on travelling for a business and was concerned about digital communication while on that trip.

The United States is a large country, and while it has three major wireless carriers, there are also scores of other sub-carriers (MVNOs) that have their own SIM cards. Will any of these US SIM cards work in Nigeria?

American carriers move from CDMA to LTE

Firstly, let’s establish that the US originally had some telecom services and infrastructure that were not compatible with Nigeria’s. Specifically, the CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) networks in the US were not, and so their SIM cards definitely did not work in Nigeria. But that has changed.

CDMA used to be big in the US. However, one after the other, US carriers made a switch from CDMA to LTE. Verizon Wireless was the last major US carrier using CDMA. Verizon shut down its CDMA network on December 31, 2022. The carrier now runs 4G LTE and 5G networks only.

As of today in 2024, there are no major US carriers that primarily use CDMA technology. Which is good news for compatibility with the rest of the world, which includes Nigeria. So, American SIM cards now are LTE and 5G compatible.

Frequency Band Compatibility

Having gotten rid of the technological differences, there is something called frequency bands. Think of these like the channels on your FM radio. It is FM radio, but each radio station broadcasts on a specific frequency band. The bands that American carriers broadcast on are different from the bands that Nigerian carriers broadcast on.

Here are the major 4G LTE frequency bands that US carriers broadcast on:

• Band 2: 1900 MHz
• Band 4: 1700 MHz
• Band 5: 850 MHz
• Band 12: 700 MHz
• Band 13: 700 MHz

Nigerian mobile networks

All four Nigerian mobile network operators (what Americans call carriers) run 4G LTE and 5G networks. The carriers are MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile. Will American SIMs work on them? Yes, but with a clause. Let me explain in detail.

All four Nigerian carriers run nationwide 4G LTE networks. But they broadcast on the following frequency bands:

• Band 3: 1800 MHz
• Band 7: 2600 MHz
• Band 8: 900 MHz
• Band 20: 800 MHz

Are there any bands that match what US carriers use? None. Zilch.

What of 5G bands compatibility?

The situation is similar to what obtains with 4G LTE networks compatibility. There are differences in 5G frequency support too, between the two countries.

SIM cards and roaming compatibility

But here is the thing: while carriers may use different frequency bands in different regions, modern SIM cards themselves often support multiple frequency bands. So, individual carriers or mobile networks may support just a handful of bands, but many SIM cards are designed to be compatible with a wide range of frequency bands beyond what individual carriers support, allowing them to roam on networks in different countries.

This flexibility is essential for international travelers who want to use their home SIM card while abroad. By supporting multiple frequency bands, SIM cards can ensure that users can stay connected regardless of the network they are roaming on. Have I explained this well?

Basically, I am saying that despite the differences in frequency bands supported by American and Nigerian carriers, the SIM cards in use across both ponds don’t have that beef and plug in well regardless of which country you are in. TL-DR: roaming works fine across both countries.

Answered: Will American SIM cards work in Nigeria?

So, yes; American SIM cards will work on any of the Nigerian mobile networks. Come into the country and you will be able to roam on Nigerian carriers with your SIM card from Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T and any of their MVNOs. There may be some limitations here and there, but you will be able to use your US SIM card in Nigeria.

Be aware of roaming charges

Do note that there are roaming charges if you choose to use your US SIM card when in Nigeria, and roaming costs more than your regular carrier charges back home. Telephone calls and SMS done on your American line while in Nigeria or indeed any other country will cost you more than the tariffs you pay back at home.

Also, before leaving the United States, do not forget to talk to your carrier to activate roaming and find out other information so you can use your American SIM card in Nigeria.

Just use WhatsApp/Telegram, etc.

Of course, where Wi-Fi is available, you can just use Internet-based messaging and telephone services for most of your communication when you are travelling. I am aware that there is free public Wi-Fi at the arrival section of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos and at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja. This means that on arrival in the country, you should be at least able to use WhatsApp, Telegram and other Internet-based services right away.

But should free Wi-Fi not work or not be available, if you have set roaming up on your line and on your smartphone, your American SIM card should be able to kick in and start roaming once you arrive in Nigeria.

Author: Mister Mobility

Mister Mobility, a techie with a passion for storytelling. I have owned, used, and reviewed hundreds of mobile phones since 2001. I started Mobility Nigeria Tech Blog in 2008.