Three things to know about cellular in Niger
One: the largest landlocked country in West Africa is over 80% Sahara, and the population — about 25 million — clusters in the south, in Niamey, and along the Niger River. Two: the cellular footprint mirrors the population — solid in Niamey, workable in Maradi and Zinder, sparse to absent in the north. Three: the wholesale rate per gigabyte is higher than the regional norm because the country's consumer cellular market has limited scale, sits inland, and prices are dollar-settled at international floors. None of those three facts changes the economic logic of paying per megabyte for a short visit, but you should understand them going in.
Roamzy charges $14.95 per gigabyte in Niger. That's $0.0146 per megabyte, billed in real time on Nigerien networks. No subscription, no expiry on the unused balance, no minimum bundle. One per-MB rate across 193 countries.
How much will Roamzy actually cost on this trip?
Cellular use is moderate: maps in Niamey, the WhatsApp to a fixer or driver, the camera-translator on French and Hausa signs, voice notes home, the rare bank-app push. Office and lodge Wi-Fi handles the heavier work. Plan on 0.3–0.5 GB/day:
| Trip length | Roamzy ($14.95/GB) | Tourist roaming pass | Local SIM at Niamey |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days (~1.2 GB) | $17.94 | $30–80 | $5–15 + KYC and a passport scan |
| 1 week (~2.8 GB) | $41.86 | $60–140 | $10–25 + paperwork |
| 2 weeks (~5.6 GB) | $83.72 | $120–280 (often two passes) | $15–35 + 30-day cap |
Competitor prices in columns 3 and 4 are 2025 ranges based on typical offerings; exact figures depend on your home carrier and the airport store you visit. Roamzy's rate in column 2 is our actual published rate from the pricing page.
For a multi-week posting, a local SIM in Niamey is workable; for a typical short visit the eSIM saves the morning at the counter.
Where is Roamzy reliable, and where isn't it?
- Niamey (Yantala, Plateau, Riyad) — 4G across the working capital; signal on the road in from Diori Hamani and along the Niger waterfront
- Maradi, Zinder, Tahoua, Dosso — workable LTE in the regional centres
- The N1 from Niamey east toward Maradi — LTE across most of its length, gaps in the long inter-village stretches
- Agadez and the southern Aïr fringes — 4G in the town, sparse on the access tracks toward the mountains
- Aïr mountains and the Ténéré desert — assume nothing; satellite communication country
- W and Niger national parks — 3G at lodges and entry; nothing in the bush
- Border zones — last 10–20 km before any frontier often pull toward neighbouring networks
Driving north of Agadez or any deep-Sahara expedition needs offline maps and a satellite messenger as baseline kit.
How do I install my Roamzy eSIM?
| Plug type | Voltage | Frequency | iOS | Android |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type A, B, C, D, E, F | 220 V | 50 Hz | iPhone XS+ | Pixel 3+, Galaxy S20+ |
- Sign in to Roamzy via Telegram or Google
- Your first eSIM is free and comes with real data on us. After that, top up from $20 in stablecoins (USDT or USDC): no cards, no banks, no FX surcharges
- The QR code appears in your dashboard as soon as the eSIM is issued
- On the iPhone itself (iOS 17.4 or newer), tap Tap to install in the QR card; otherwise Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM → scan QR
- The counter starts when you land at Niamey Diori Hamani (NIM)
Supported stablecoins and common setup errors are in the FAQ. The dashboard handles top-ups in USDT.
What are Roamzy's honest limitations?
- No welcome promo that flips on the second top-up. Top-up #1 and top-up #20 cost the same per megabyte.
- No fine-print throttling. One rate, full speed where there's signal — first GB and the tenth cost $0.0146/MB.
- No auto-renewal. Balance runs out, the eSIM stops.
What if my route continues across the Sahel?
- Burkina Faso — overland southwest, separate country rate
- Chad — overland east, common rotation
- If you want the underlying mechanics — how roaming actually gets priced and why it hurts