Best Mobile Network In Italy
To engage in daily life in Italy, having a mobile phone number and plan is pretty much a need. We have compiled a list of Italy’s top mobile networks.
Which Is The Best Mobile Network In Italy?
Italy has three leading mobile network providers:
- Vodafone
- TIM and
- WindTre
The newly combined WindTre, currently leads the country’s download and upload speeds rankings, according to the most recent mobile network report for Italy from OpenSignal. Still, Vodafone Italia maintains its lead in terms of 4G coverage. Italy’s top mobile service providers
Which Italian Mobile Carrier Should You Choose?
Your choice should be based on the area of Italy where you reside and spend the most time. We advise selecting from TIM, Vodafone, Wind Tre (formerly Wind and Tre), and Vodafone.TIM has the best coverage. The latter offers the quickest 5G NR speeds and the most refined overall network. The fastest 4G/LTE network is Wind Tre’s.
You may determine whether the mobile carrier has coverage in your location.
3G / 4G / 5G coverage map, Italy
Cell Phone Contract, Or Prepaid SIM
When selecting a mobile phone plan, you must also pick if you want a contract or to pay as you go with a prepaid SIM card. The monthly charge for mobile phone contracts in Italy is often deducted from your bank account by direct debit and is typically a predetermined period of either 12 or 24 months.
In Italy, there are two different contract types: Ricaricabili or prepaid, which is an excellent choice if you won’t be there for long, and Abbonamenti / Abbonamento, which provides you a better value but can need you to sign up for a minimum amount of time.
5 Features To Choose The Best Mobile Phone Contract For Your Needs
Text Messages & Talk Time
These days, most contracts provide unlimited text and phone calls. With a minutes bundle, you may, however, select lesser packages.
Internet Data And Speed
Typical Internet Data bundles begin with 1GB. Where you reside determines which cell network in Italy offers the most significant internet. The fastest network is 5G, although it’s only available in a few areas of Italy. The fastest network with the most coverage is LTE (4G).
Length of the contract
Most cellphone contracts last 24 or 12 months. When that happens, you have a month to cancel them.
Rates
Generally, to identify all charges included in your rate, you must scan the company’s website. When selecting the business, consider the following:
- The tariffs or fees will vary based on what it contains, first and foremost. Most businesses provide a unique plan for college students or recent graduates, typically under 30.
- Second, keep an eye out for any “hidden fees” (such as sales tax or VAT). In Italy, the costo di attivazione is the activation fee and the Tassa di concessione governativa is a specific communications tax that costs 5.16€.
Phone Number
Some service providers let you select your phone number. You may keep your previous provider’s Italian number if you have one. Some businesses even reward their customers for this service.
Best Italian Mobile Phone Contract Providers
Following TIM as the market leader are Vodafone, Wind, and Tre. Before signing a contract, thoroughly evaluate the pricing and terms offered by each company’s wide selection of voice and data packages. On the major carriers’ networks, a variety of tiny mobile firms also run their operations.
Customers profit from the fierce marketing rivalry among Italian service suppliers. With a set monthly subscription of no more than 10 Euros, they hope to provide the lowest rates for calls and SMS services, including “free” calls and SMS.
| TIM | Windtre | Vodafone | |
| Rate | €29.99 | €29.99 | €14,99 |
| Max Internet | 5G | 5G | 5G |
| Call | UNLIMITED | Unlimited minutes200 minutes abroad | Unlimited |
| Messages | UNLIMITED | 200 SMS | Unlimited |
| Sales Tax included | yes | yes | Yes |
| Activation cost | Free if done online else 5.00€ | Free | Free |
Refer to the company’s official website for the most recent promotions since the pricing and offers stated above are subject to frequent change.
Vodafone
Italy’s top mobile network overall is Vodafone. Its coverage is among the most trustworthy in the industry. Vodafone also offers some of the top internet services.
One of the largest mobile networks in all of Europe is Vodafone. Only in Italy does it have more than 30,000,000 mobile users.
The blazing-fast connection is what makes Vodafone what it is. You probably won’t experience slowing down along with them. The vast majority of Italian cities are covered by its infrastructure.
Check their coverage on Vodafone’s official coverage map
Coverage
Vodafone provides excellent coverage and speed. It has held the title of most-covered operator for a long time. It consistently operates in isolated regions like hills and small towns.
Regarding roaming, Vodafone is functional in practically all of Europe. Some of your data can be used without incurring additional costs.
Speed
The Vodafone Internet speed is excellent. They provide connections for 2G, 3G (HSDPA/UMTS/DC-HSPA+), 4G (LTE/LTE ADVANCE), and even 5G. In both urban and rural locations, a 4G+ rate is attainable. Without any interruptions, you may watch Ultra HD movies or television shows.
Concerning 5G, it only functions in a few places. It is available in Naples, Milan, Rome, and Turin. To achieve the fastest speeds, you might need to purchase specialized plans.
Prices
The pricing at Vodafone is excessively excessive, and the bundles aren’t efficient. The coverage and speed, however, make the price worthwhile. If money is scarce, you might need to investigate further. Most plans offer unlimited data for services like Spotify, Facebook, and WhatsApp.
They frequently alter their deals, so you spend more than anticipated. Additionally, if you sign a contract, you will be required to work for them for many years.
Customer Service
Vodafone’s customer support is only adequate. Not many people have given call support favorable feedback. However, the My Vodafone app is fully functional and may be used for a variety of functions. Furthermore, it offers customer service via Facebook.
TIM
TIM offers some of the most significant coverage in Italy, similar to Vodafone. On your phone, you will typically see all available signal bars. If you want trustworthy coverage, TIM is the only choice. In all locations, 4G connections function 96% of the time.
If you’re a customer, you may use some of your TIM plans (voice calls, SMS, and data) in Europe.
Coverage
TIM offers some of the most excellent coverage in Italy, similar to Vodafone. On your phone, you will typically see all available signal bars. If you want trustworthy coverage, TIM is the only choice. In all locations, 4G connections function 96% of the time.
If you’re a customer, you may use some of your TIM plans (voice calls, SMS, and data) in Europe.
Check their coverage on TIM’s official coverage map
Speed
One of the fastest networks in the Italian market belongs to TIM. They now provide 2G, 3G (UMTS/HSPA), and 4G (LTE/LTE ADVANCE). Bari, Rome, Turin, Milan, Florence, and more cities have 5G connectivity. To ensure that you have access to the newest speed technology, the speed restrictions might approach 2 Gbps. Its tariffs are comparable to those of Vodafone.
Keep in mind that the allowed speed depends on your strategy. Some packages, like the TIM Mercury 50GB, have a 150Mbps maximum speed. So, before finalizing the sale, be sure your bundle includes it.
Prices
Although TIM offers a variety of price points, most are rather pricey. Make care to read the terms as well. The terms of the transaction are frequently altered. After a few months, some consumers notice a rise in pricing. Do not forget to inquire about the duration of the contract’s validity.
The hidden cost is another factor to take into account. You could get spam messages regarding tests, horoscopes, football, and other topics. Make careful to turn off each one as soon as you can. You won’t ever require these services, hence they are useless. You should also turn off a few unnecessary services, such as “LoSai and ChiamaOra di TIM.
Customer Service
Customer service from TIM is good; however, responses sometimes take a while. Social networking is the most effective approach to getting in touch with them. They frequently respond in English after a few hours. Don’t count on the call center to provide the quickest response.
You can check the FAQ area on the official website if the issue is not urgent. Typically, you’ll discover all the solutions there. Additionally, you may check your balance via the “MyTIM app”.
WINDTRE
Although Windtre doesn’t have as comprehensive a coverage as TIM and Vodafone, it nevertheless does. The benefit of Windtre is its clean and competent service.
Coverage
In most places, including popular tourist destinations, Windtre provides excellent coverage. However, it might not function in isolated locations like hills or rural regions. Windtre might not be the ideal choice if you plan to visit some of these locations.
Windtre’s coverage may differ from that of other major network providers. But remember that the location itself has a significant role in the signal. On occasion, Windtre receives a stronger signal than TIM and Vodafone. You can use some of your roaming data for free in the EU.
Check their coverage on: https://www.windtre.it/copertura-4g-lte-5g-internet-veloce/
Speed
WINDTRE’S speed is comparable to that of TIM and Vodafone. In 98.1% of Italy, Wind provides 4G service. There are numerous significant cities where it is offered, and the maximum speed is 1Gbps. It’s doubtful that browsing will slow you down. WindTre now provides 5G as well.
Prices
The bundles offered by WindTres are appealing, and the rates are pretty reasonable. Most plans include unlimited voice calls and a respectable number of GB. They provide packages for groups of people, foreigners, and even for particular age groups. Your statement won’t have any unexpected charges because the rates are set.
Customer Service
The operators quickly respond to messages, and the customer service is generally reasonable. To resolve your issue, you might have to wait a few days. Social media and the call center are two ways to connect with WindTre. The “MyWind app” and the official website both function well across all platforms.
Where Is 5G In Italy?
As the fourth European nation to commercially provide 5G services, Italy is a 5G pioneer in this highly cutthroat industry. WindTre has expanded 5G dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) to 93% of the nation, while TIM also unveiled a 5G cloud network. Vodafone and Huawei are collaborating on a 5G RAN network.
Conclusion
Choose Vodafone if you must have coverage. It provides Italy’s most reliable connection. The costs, nevertheless, are relatively high and may go up in the future. Not the most trustworthy is the customer assistance. If you want the quickest network, TIM is your best bet. You might need to sign a long-term contract, and the majority of packages are not inexpensive. Make sure to go over all of the conditions of their offerings carefully. If you want fantastic packages at a reasonable price, Wind is the best choice. Speed and coverage won’t be a problem for most folks. Although the network quality (depending on the location) is not the finest, it is pretty dependable and steady. All in all, it is a wise decision for everyone. All mobile networks offer advantages and disadvantages, but it is up to you to decide which meets your requirements the best.