Megacom SIM card, how does it work?

Hi Agnès,

For physical SIM cards, you put it in its slot, and then... it depends 😏. Sometimes it works right away, sometimes you get a text in an unexpected language, and you have to do some maneuvers. Very often, the seller will do it for you since they’re used to it. It can get complicated, and I’ve even had cases where it just... never worked.

I don’t know about Megacom—are you talking about an eSIM or a physical SIM?

Michel

I'm talking about a SIM card.

For my part, I bought an eSIM from another provider for a compatible phone.

We have the day in Bishkek to get it working, and I downloaded Russian and Kyrgyz on Google Translate...

For Russian, it's magical—it even works with voice!

For Kyrgyz, my interlocutors need to be able to read, but I assume that’s not a problem in this country?

There’s no denying it, all these apps make travelers' lives so much easier!

For the SIM card, don’t leave the seller until it’s working—that’s the best solution. No need to mess around with some random online translation.

Michel

Yes. I don’t speak Russian or Kyrgyz, and my English doesn’t include that kind of vocabulary.

I don’t think an employee will speak French...

Translation apps have gotten better. They’re super handy.

I’ve already managed to get out of tight spots thanks to them in Thailand and Chile.

It even translates a menu you take a photo of...

Not perfect, but way better than the original! 😄

The seller will know how to do it, and your English will be more than enough for whatever you need to explain. All that translation hassle is pointless.

Michel

You don’t know my English level or the Russian level of an AI.

My question remains completely unanswered...

If it's to get a SIM card at Manas or at a Central Asian airport, I've done it several times and I can assure you that you're burdening yourself with unnecessary stuff. You love making a big deal out of problems that don’t even exist, a bit like with the name on your flight ticket.

Michel

That still doesn’t answer my question...

I already explained how it works—what else do you want to know? The price of this or that SIM card? Or eSIM? Anyway, the price doesn’t vary much; you’re not locked into a year-long contract.

Michel

How does it work...

How a Megacom SIM card works in Kyrgyzstan.

If you’ve never bought one, you can skip this.

(I didn’t ask about the price.)

I can’t for the life of me remember which operator it was.

You don’t get to choose—you just show up at the counter and take what’s available. And the guy sets it up for you because he’s so used to it, it takes him 10 seconds. Is *that* what you call "functioning"? It’s all the same anyway, and you won’t necessarily get what you imagined or planned.

MegaCom must be it: https://mega24.kg/

Michel

I won’t be getting my SIM card at the airport. I know Megacom’s website, but it’s not in English. There aren’t any prepaid cards on the site—just plans. I assume the one for civil servants won’t work for me. 😏

You didn’t get my initial question anyway.

I’ve never bought a SIM card abroad or a prepaid plan in France before.

How does it work?

Apparently, there are codes to enter once the card is inserted.

The codes, the SMS you have to reply to on short numbers—the seller will handle it for you, you won’t have to do anything yourself, and it’s likely you wouldn’t even manage it. How does it work? You have credit that you top up either online (sometimes) but most often in cash at those multipurpose machines you find all over Central Asia, where you pay for everything: phone, electricity, gas. Just go with the flow, you’ll figure it out. But it’s making things more complicated if you don’t buy the SIM at the airport...

Michel

Hello I’m not sure if this will answer your question... I used a prepaid SIM card bought in France about 6 months ago. I needed it to handle a "deal" on the site "le bon coin"—I didn’t want to use my personal phone... I’d never tried this before. On the "cardboard" insert that came with the SIM (bought at a tobacco shop), there were activation instructions. All you had to do was insert the SIM into your phone, and you’d receive an SMS with a code to send back. There was also a link to a site asking for your details—just so you could top up later if you wanted to extend the card’s validity... I started filling it out but then thought I didn’t need to give all that info if I wanted to stay anonymous. So I stopped, left the site, and wondered if the SIM would even activate... It worked fine without me having to register on the provider’s site. I don’t remember the exact price, but it was something like 10 € for 15 days. Hope this helps! 😏

At one in the morning, I’ll have better things to do than rush to buy a SIM card...

I don’t know why you keep insisting on answering my questions. You’re almost always off the mark. You remind me of those politicians who are completely out of touch with people’s reality.

It’s open as long as there are flights, and stopping by this counter on your way out is completely routine—this is how travelers do it. It’s the best spot, with the least hassle and the most efficiency.

What’s nearby? What else do you want to know beyond what I’ve already explained from doing this plenty of times? What do you want to read? Do you want to do what people who know better *don’t* do? Fine, go look it up yourself.

Michel

Hey Perju 🙂

I’m afraid the former Soviet Union countries can be a tad more hassle-prone...

The instructions should be on the card itself. I can easily translate them using Google Translate’s photo feature.

Was the SMS sent to the phone number that came with the prepaid card?

I can tell you're frustrated.

Perju’s answer is more the kind of thing I was looking for. Factual, clear, SIM cards for dummies.

I’ll also explain SIM cards for dummies if you read this, but I didn’t realize you were planning to buy the card in France ahead of time 😅. You’re not actually gonna do that, right? I’m not annoyed—I don’t care—I’ve bought SIMs in at least 15 countries, so I’m not here to lecture. It’s just that I think you’re playing by different rules than usual, and I’m guessing you’ll run into some surprises in KZ.

Michel

Seriously, you can't read questions any better than you can answer them. 😄

If your question is "How does the MegaCom SIM card work?", it’s so vague that anything is possible. I still don’t even know what you’re trying to find out... How to buy it? How to activate it? How to top up the credit?" But since I’ve answered all three, I’m starting to think you’re not quite sure what you’re looking for yourself. No need to clarify—just ask Perju.

Michel

You didn’t answer anything except telling the guy to just let it go... 😄

You didn’t answer anything except ‘let the guy handle it’…

And I even said it was silly not to do it at the airport where they do them all the time and are super experienced. You’re gonna go to a downtown store, they’ll kinda know how to do it, it’ll be more bureaucratic, it’ll take you an hour, and it’ll cost the same price—it’s just dumb. And if I’m telling you it’s dumb, it’s from experience too, because I’ve tried doing it that way and I remember exactly how it went.

Now, since you don’t wanna know how travelers who do this all the time handle it, and you’ve already decided on the right way to do it yourself, at least don’t ask the question—knowing that nobody’s gonna be able to tell you exactly how your SIM card should be set up, since nobody even knows which version you’d actually buy.

Michel

You’re not people.😉

Bye, Michel.

My memories are pretty vague... I just remember inserting the card into the phone and entering a PIN code that came with it. The card must have activated automatically—I got a text on the phone with the assigned number.

Okay, I asked my question to an AI. Here’s its answer:

If I worked for MegaCom (nowadays the commercial brand is often presented as MEGA), and your need is simply at least 5 GB for a month, I’d sell you a standard monthly plan rather than a special tourist offer, because it generally offers the best data-to-price ratio. 👍 MegaCom +1 What I recommend you buy The monthly plan “Eldiki 490”: validity: 28 days internet: 40 GB price: 490 Kyrgyz soms (KGS) calls and SMS included in Kyrgyzstan (not important for you if you mainly want data) 👍 MegaCom +1 40 GB is way more than your 5 GB requirement. What you’ll need Your passport. An unlocked phone (not locked by a French carrier). Around 490 KGS in credit + possibly a few dozen soms for the SIM. The price of the SIM itself varies depending on the point of sale. I couldn’t find a recent official price, so I won’t make one up. Where to buy it I recommend an official MEGA service center in town rather than a seller at the airport. Several travelers report that airport offers can be more expensive. 👍 Reddit What to say Since you don’t speak Russian or Kyrgyz, just show this text on your phone: Hello. I need a new prepaid MEGA SIM card. Please register it with my passport and activate the "Eldiki 490" package (40 GB / 28 days). Please make sure mobile internet is working before I leave. What the employee should do register the SIM with your passport (mandatory in Kyrgyzstan); activate the SIM card; credit the account; activate the Eldiki 490 plan; check that mobile data is working. 👍 All Net Packages Checks before leaving the store Ask the employee to: insert the SIM; enable mobile data; open a web page in front of you; check that you see “4G” or “LTE.” Don’t leave the store until the internet is working. Even simpler alternative: eSIM If your phone supports eSIMs, MEGA now offers eSIMs via the MegaPay app with a QR code. 👍 mega24.kg However, for a foreign traveler who doesn’t speak Russian, the simplest solution is often: go to an official MEGA store; present your passport; ask for full activation on the spot. That way, you leave with a working Kyrgyz number and around 40 GB for 28 days, which more than covers your 5 GB need. 👍 MegaCom +1

Here’s what she told me if I have to figure it out on my own:

If you buy a physical MEGA SIM and handle everything yourself, here’s the most realistic procedure based on the official information available. 1. Buy the SIM Present your passport. The SIM must be registered in your name. Once you have the SIM, insert it into your phone. 2. Top up your account For the “Eldiki 490” plan, you need at least 490 soms of credit on your line. The official site specifies that when activating, you must have a balance at least equal to the plan’s price. 😊 Mega You can top up: at a MEGA store; via a payment terminal; through the official MEGA/MegaPay app. 😊 3. Activate the plan Dial on your phone keypad: *778*85# then press Call. This is the official command for the Eldiki 490 plan. 😊 Mega A few minutes later, you should receive a confirmation SMS. 4. Check that the plan is active Dial: *778# → plan status. 😊 Mega To see remaining data: *505# → quota check. 😊 Mega 5. Set up the internet if it doesn’t work automatically On Android or iPhone: Settings → Mobile Network → Access Point Names (APN) Create or edit an APN with: APN: internet Username: leave empty Password: leave empty This is the official MEGA setting. 😊 Mega +1 Then: enable mobile data; restart your phone if necessary. 6. Verify that the SIM is properly registered on the network You should see: MEGA or MegaCom as the operator; 4G / LTE / 5G depending on local coverage. Then try opening a web page. 7. If there’s a problem Dial: *500 This is the free support center for MEGA subscribers. 😊 Mega Since you don’t speak Russian or Kyrgyz, prepare a message in English like: I bought a MEGA SIM card. The Eldiki 490 plan is activated but mobile internet doesn’t work. Please check my APN and account. Key point for travelers The trickiest part is usually not activating the plan, but the initial SIM registration with your passport. If the seller correctly registered the card and there’s enough credit, activating with *778*85# and the APN “internet” should normally be enough. 😊 Mega +1 If you tell me: your exact phone model (iPhone 15, Samsung S24, Pixel 9, etc.), and which city in Kyrgyzstan you’re arriving in, I can give you the exact screens to open and detailed steps.

And to top up the account:

For a traveler who just bought a MEGA SIM, there are essentially 3 ways to top up the account. 1. The easiest method: a payment kiosk In Kyrgyzstan, payment kiosks are everywhere (shopping centers, supermarkets, main streets, etc.). Procedure: Choose the MEGA operator on the screen. Enter your Kyrgyz phone number (+996...). Check the displayed number. Insert the bills. Confirm. Keep the receipt until you receive the confirmation SMS. Local users say this is a common method and a confirmation SMS is sent after payment. 👍 Reddit +1 2. Via the MegaPay app The official MegaPay app lets you top up a MEGA number. 👍 MegaPay +1 The issue for a foreign visitor is that: the interface is mostly in Russian; some functions may require a local bank card or additional identification. I can’t guarantee that a French bank card will be accepted. 3. By giving cash to a vendor You can simply ask: "Please top up my MEGA number with 500 KGS." The vendor will process the payment from their terminal or cash register system. This is extremely common in Kyrgyzstan. 👍 Mega +1 What I’d do in your shoes If you arrive in Bishkek without speaking Russian: Buy the MEGA SIM. Ask right away: "Please add 500 soms credit." Check the balance. Activate the Eldiki 490 plan. This is the simplest solution and avoids having to navigate kiosk menus. Check that the 500 soms have arrived Dial: *100# The main balance will appear on the screen. 👍 Центр Событий Once you see at least 490 KGS in your account, you can activate the plan: *778*85# then Call. (Official command for the Eldiki 490 plan.) 👍 Mega In practice, if you tell me your arrival airport (Bishkek or Osh) and whether your phone supports eSIM or only physical SIM, I can describe the exact step-by-step scenario from getting off the plane to activating the internet.

Well, I guess that’s it...😉

Here’s what she told me if I have to manage on my own

You can’t, because someone needs to collect the initial credit amount. And the person who does it won’t even ask if you want to do it alone—they’ll handle it in seconds, without the likely mistakes your AI would make. They won’t even let you try on your own, just to avoid wasting time. It’s funny reading how little you actually know about how things work. I hope you’ll at least laugh about it when you get back.

Michel

You didn’t read the last message...

If it doesn’t change anything, I don’t see what you’re playing at. Anyway, you’re gonna have a complicated trip in Central Asia, trying to control every little detail that’ll never go exactly the way the AI says.

Michel

Meh.

You're not very curious.

Goodbye, Michel.

I gave up trying to master things that are completely useless to master, since the seller won’t even let you do it anyway! For top-ups, like I explained to you, there are boxes pretty much everywhere in malls—or even on the street—and people pay for everything with them, from electricity to phone credit. But you don’t need a general user guide; you’ll figure it out on the spot—it’s pretty intuitive.

Well then...

Michel

I won’t get my SIM at the airport. I know the Megacom website, but it’s not in English. There are no prepaid cards on the site, only plans.

This here is the holder for my Megacom SIM card. Like everywhere, the card is sold in these plastic holders the size of a credit card:



Asian telecom operators (KZ, KG, TJ, UZ) work in terms of billing like the Russians. The concept of a long-term subscription doesn’t exist. But I think that’s also been the case in the EU, including France, for a long time. Basically, you can switch operators anytime.

The plan options, called "tariffs" in Russian (Тарифы) and "tarifter" in Kyrgyz (Тарифтер), are actually prepaid for a typical duration of one month, but sometimes less—and with Megacom, a week is possible. If you don’t top up or set up automatic recharge via card or by deducting from your account balance, once the period expires, the card switches to emergency use only + the operator’s numbers for recharging and info.

The plans (tariffs) are a prepaid price for a month (or a week, in Megacom’s case), with the included data, call minutes, and SMS quantities for that price.

There’s a Megacom store in the airport on the ground floor, open 24/7.

When you buy one, the seller inserts and activates the card. ALWAYS. The buyer doesn’t have to do anything (except show their passport). That’s what Tatra explained.

Perju apparently bought a prepaid card in France—that is, a card with an initial plan but one you have to activate and validate yourself since it’s not sold in a telecom store. That’s the only difference. So you have to do what the seller normally does: enter the PINs included on the paper that comes with the card (this physically activates the SIM in your phone), then go to the operator’s website to provide your personal details (name, first name, ID document).

Thanks for the detailed firsthand experience.

Is the month 30 days from date to date, or a calendar month? ( In France, you have plans with no commitment and with commitment. The latter are usually cheaper. )

For the month, is it 30 days from date to date or a calendar month?

30 days or until the included data is used up, in which case you just need to top up your balance.

Perfect.

Hi there,

I’ve never bought a SIM card abroad or even used prepaid cards in France...

So I’m wondering how it works?

Uzbek version: You head to a mobile phone shop. You go in. You say, "I need a SIM card for 2 weeks, please." You more or less understand what the guy says back. You hand him your phone. He does everything for you. You pay around 5 € if I remember correctly. You leave the shop. You forget about it. Done.

Catherine

Listen Agnes, don’t stress... if I don’t get any messages or calls during your trip, I’ll deal with it... 😏

Personally, I’ve got an eSIM that should work as soon as I land in Kyrgyzstan! 😎 You won’t get rid of me that easily.😉

( This is my first time using an eSIM too, but it’s so much easier to buy! This trip is full of firsts, by the way: the eSIM, the physical SIM card, using a translator with photo and voice features, heavy WhatsApp use, plus spending the night in a yurt and trying yak ham... )

Hi Catherine

I’ve got an even simpler option for Uzbekistan. Just two clicks on my phone to buy the plan extension for that country...😉

Unfortunately, this option isn’t available for Kyrgyzstan.🙁

Well, you buy a Ubigi global eSIM like I do. Then you’ve got data in Istanbul, you’ve got it if your flight gets diverted to Türkmenbashi or Shymkent, and you’ve got it as soon as you land in Funze. Your salary should cover these little luxuries.

Michel

Nights in yurts, especially those in slightly upscale tourist "camps," are certainly a discovery, but in no way uncomfortable. That said, unless you're aiming for a higher standard, they don’t have individual bathrooms, so it’s like standard camping in France or elsewhere. Don’t worry about an early-morning intrusion, though—depending on the region and temperatures, someone might come in to stoke the stove in the middle of the yurt... 😏 As for the ham... I haven’t tried it, but I remember a plate of yak meat at a hotel in Murgab (Tajikistan), where, despite our hunger after a few days, we struggled to chew it... 😄

Check message 3 again.

Two clicks on my phone to buy the plan extension for this country...Wink

Through your French carrier? I hope it’s reliable. That’s what I did with Vodafone for Israel. It never worked. And those two clicks turned into a Kafkaesque odyssey from call center to call center.

Have a great trip.

Catherine

You’d get a Ubigi global SIM and avoid this whole metaphysical headache.

Michel

I think there’s a washroom in one of the two yurts we booked. For the other one, it’s shared facilities, and I think I’ll just take my shower at the next stop... No big deal for one night and a really chilly stop. I’m making a note not to sleep like Marilyn Monroe.

It’s not the yurts that are bothering me. More like a few guesthouses that aren’t exactly charming. 🤪

I brought a sleeping bag liner just in case...

In photos, the yak ham really stands out. More like a kind of Bündnerfleisch than actual ham, though.

Same goes for the horse, by the way.

Though, it does seem like a luxury shop!

As for the mutton, the Norwegian one I tried had a rancid aftertaste and tasted like old meat. No desire to try that experience again!