Megacom SIM card, how does it work? (page 2 of 4)

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.