Natcom Haiti Phone Setup

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The newest phone carrier in Haiti is Natcom.  It is a bit cheaper then the competitors.  I switched over because the internet had a pay-as-you-go service which I liked.  Natcom is also offering 3G and 4G.  I didn’t believe it at first but after running a speed test on it, I did in fact verify that it was truly doing 4G.

Natcom has four different plans for Haiti:

  • MI-1.  This is for paying 2.4 HG per Mb.
    • $0.06 per Mb.
  • MI-2.  You pay 80 HG for 50 Mb. $2 US
    • 1.6 HG per Mb or in USD $0.04 per Mb.
    • Charges you 2.4 HG per Mb after you use the 50 Mb.
  • MI-10.  You pay 400 HG for 600 Mb. $10 US
    • 0.8 HG per Mb or in USD $0.02 per Mb.
  • MI-U.  You pay 800 HG for unlimited.  $20 US
Now thinking through a scenario.  Let’s say you do use 500 Mb per month.  MI1 plan would cost you: $30.  Where as the MI-10 would cost you only $10.  Much better deal!

 

How do I sign up?

  • First you need to get a SIM and then activate it by calling another person.
  • Once you have activated your SIM then start adding on minutes.  You will need to add on the amount of which the plan requires in order for you to activate the internet on your phone.
  • Text the MI<number of plan> to 132.  So for MI-10 you would type “MI10”.
  • You will receive a text back to which you need to reply either YES to confirm or NO to cancel.
  • Once you type YES – you are all set to use 4G service in Haiti!

The way that the plan works is that it will renew with that same plan next month.  So whichever plan you pick it will keep it for the next month and charge you accordingly.

How do I change plans?

You can change plans at any time.  To cancel your plan you can type OFF to number 132. When you change plans it will pro-rate your plan based on how far into the month you are.

If you want to change plans – It is recommended that you text the code you want *before* the beginning of the next month.  Once the first of the month begins Natcom will automatically try to deduct the amount of your currently subscribed internet plan.

Trouble?

If you are having trouble getting the Natcom Haiti internet working it may be because you need to enter the Natcom APN.

Natcom APN: natcom
MCC: 372
MNC: 03

*You may or may not need to enter the MCC and MNC. Some phones seem to find it automatically.

 

* Updated March 1, 2013 – Added in How do I change Natcom Haiti plans and the “Trouble?” section

84 thoughts on “Natcom Haiti Phone Setup”

  1. The popularity of Natcom has made the USB connectors scarce. What do I need to take to Haiti this week to allow me to connect my notebook by USB to the Natcom network?

  2. I’m trying to buy a natcom phone for someone in Haiti. Is there a way for me to access the website from the US? Please help

  3. I still don’t know why this company even had a website so that I can figure out, all the available plans, and more 🙁

  6. Thanks so much for this post! Awesome stuff- helped me finally decide to switch to Natcom!
    I want to get a USB internet chip so that I can easily take a class online and have no problems with speed- as I will be downloading frequent lectures.
    Do you have any thoughts on how I could most easily get something like this? I want unlimited data.

    Thoughts?

  7. I have been trying to locate a website for Natcom for the last year or so, and so far, I haven’t been successful. Do they have a website, or do they even believe in the Internet?

    Someone please!

  11. Hello people, I’ve been using natcom for about 1 year now, but I’d like to know how to connect it on my linux Ubuntu Operating System. I can on my Mac, my Windows PC but not a chance on my ubuntu, please, help.

  15. Will I be able to purchase NATCOM SIM at the Airport in Port-au-Prince? Will I be able to use that SIM on my phone?

  16. You won’t be able to purchase a NATCOM SIM at the airport (as of this writing). Though finding a Natcom SIM will not be hard to find on the street or at an official Natcom store. If you want to use Natcom, Digicel, Viola or other Haiti carriers you will just want to make sure your phone is unlocked. Hope you have a great trip! If you have other questions about Haiti you can head over here: http://ryanandmelissaalberts.com/faq

    Enjoy!

  18. To everyone asking about how to get it to work in Ubuntu. I haven’t tried it myself, but I’m guessing there are two possible options.

    First Method: I doubt this will work, but it’s worth a shot. Try installing the .exe using WINE.
    Steps:
    1. If you don’t have WINE installed go to the terminal and type

    sudo apt-get wine

    it’s a pretty large file so it’ll take a while to download.

    2. While this is downloading, right click on the .exe file stored in the USB device.
    Go to properties and make sure “Allow executing file as program” is checked off.

    3. After wine is done downloading. Right click on the .exe file on the device again and click on “Open using WINE.”

    I’m not sure if this will work, but it’s worth a shot. No one has ported it for WINE yet, but if your lucky it may work.

    2nd way: If this doesn’t work then you’ll have to run windows inside of a virtual machine.

    I’m not going to go into detail here, but if wine doesn’t work then research “Oracle VM VirtualBox.”

    Basically you’ll be forced to use a “virtual” copy of windows, that is running inside of ubuntu, whenever you want to use the internet. This isn’t the best solution, but it’s the only other one I can think of.

  20. can i use “magic jack plus” in haiti ? how the home phone work? because i need house phone 2 use “magic jack plus”

  21. Great question! I don’t know of anyone that uses the landline phones in Haiti. I would say that you would probably have a hard time finding a place to use that device here in Haiti. There are many other solutions that you can use to call back to the states or use internet though.

  22. Greeting everyone!
    I’d like to add some vital information on some of the post on here. In regards to the Magic Jack Plus question, yes you will be able to use it in Haiti unfortunately you won’t be able to use the newly added feature of the Magic Jack plus. In your case you will need to use a laptop to use Natcom 3G network. The company I work for has product call Unlimited Haiti. It’s a cell phone service that enables you to make unlimited international calls from Haiti to the USA, Canada, France Puerto Rico, Mexico for only $59.95. Plus unlimited internet service on a 3G Celular network. for more information, please visit http://www.globalvoicedirect.com/haitiunlimited/

  23. Hi. I have filed a bug reports about this in Ubuntu at http://pad.lv/1030531

    I’m also asking Canonical support to help with this. If you have this key and can helptest the workarounds/packages proposed there, please do so in the bug report.

    Thank you!

  24. the last time i went to Haiti, 4G wasn’t available and the connection over natcom network was suck but, for a debut i think Haiti is lucky to enjoy a bit of technology from the Vietnamese company, have plan to visit again and i will definitely try the 4G.

  25. I go to Haiti 2-3 times a year and have used Natcom dongle each time but what I’d like to do is connect one to a wifi hotspot. So far I’ve been unable to find one that will a hotspot that will work with the Natcom dongle. Has anyone found one and confirmed it’s use?

  26. Great question! I would like to do that as well! So far what I end up doing is making my computer a wireless hotspot while having the Natcom stick connected to the internet. You can do this with a Mac or Windows 7/Vista. Not sure about Windows XP though.

  27. I bought a HUAWEI E583C hotspot… put in my Natcom sim card… and it worked great! Google it… they have several products, probably one better than the one I bought… but so far I have been happy with it. If anyone finds something better, please message me.

  28. That’s great to hear! I have recently been looking for a router that will take the Natcom sim.

  29. I am now using a unlocked ZTE MF60 on my MacBook Pro. When I’m in Haiti I use a NatCom sim and when in the States I use a T-Mobile sim. Works great. Very small

    DA

  32. It will renew every month unless you send OFF to 132. If your phone does not have enough money on it when the 1st of the month comes around again you will receive a text message from Natcom asking you to add more Goude. Hope that helps!

  33. Hi, i purchase a digicel n a natcom sim card in haiti last august, i just find out my digicel sim card as been deactived and can no longer actived both sim had money on them do you my natcom as been deactived also? or will i still be able to add money on it and use it next time am in haiti

  34. Thanks for this site. I’m finding that Natcom advertises a small office 3g/4g router on their site but doesn’t actually have any in stock. One company here in the US is advertising one from Netgear that will work, but their site looks slightly sketchy and they don’t say which model number it is. Any idea which of these modems meets the Natcom profile? http://www.netgear.com/service-provider/products/mobile-broadband/3g-4g-mobile-broadband/ . The products look good and the idea of the business sized account (30gb/mo) plus the more robust desktop modem seem like a good idea for a school I work with.

  36. Katia – Great question! From everyone that I know who uses Natcom with months between going back and forth from their country *is able* to just add money onto their existing SIM without any problems. It is unfortunate that digicel deactivates their SIM cards after some months. Hope that helps! Let me know if you have other questions!

    – Ryan

  37. I would like to know if natcon gives house phone services.How does it work?
    Thanks

  38. Richard,

    They do have a house phone services. I couldn’t tell you how well it works or anything though since I haven’t used it.

    – Ryan

  39. Ryan, this is so helpful for those of us serving in Haiti! Thanks so much. Here’s my question. I have the 3G USB from Natcom and I’ve got it working on my MacBook Pro, but I’d rather connect it to a battery powered travel router so that I can carry my hotspot around with me when I’m out in the field. That would keep my phone and other options available. However, my router (Zoom 4506) apparently needs some information that I can’t get (APN, User Name, Password, Dial Number) – it might not need everything, but it needs at least some of that to work. Any clue if you can point me in the right direction?

  42. Yes – if they have a SIM card slot. There are two versions. The one with and the one without. Hope that helps!

  43. Ryan, I am curious when you purchased the Netgear MBR1210 was the router locked to Bell Canada? The only ones that I am able to find online are stating that they are only for use with Bell Canada. I just want to make sure that it will work properly before I purchase the router.

    Thanks!

  44. I NEED HELP WITH MY NATCOM PHONE. IT WORKED IN HAITI LAST WEEK GOT BACK IN THE US BUT NOT WORKING. NEED CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER IN THE US FOR HELP.

  45. Ryan,
    Thanks for all this valuable information.

    Do the rates you quoted (MI-x) include phone service or is that just internet? If it is separate, are 2 subscriptions required (internet and phone). I tried looking on Natcom’s website but it’s not very clear.

    Also do you know if these cards can be purchased (and shipped) via internet or do you need to go to a store in Haiti?

    Does Natcom have a coverage map for Haiti? We have a clinic in the mountains 40-50 mi southeast of PAP.

    Thanks, Jess

  47. Well – I don’t work for Natcom so I can’t do much about that :-D. Natcom worked great in Jacmel when I was last there. Anything change?

  48. Jess – Great question! It is just for internet BUT phone service is pretty cheap! The nice thing about Natcom is the money is under the same account. So when you add money to your phone it all goes under the same account balance. For example, when you sign up for a plan it will deduct money out of your phones account which is the same place that is deducted when you use the phone to call someone. Not sure if that makes sense or not – please shoot me an email if it doesn’t.

  50. My friend is in Jacmel and his Lenovo Thinkpad (Windows 8) isn’t able to connect to Natcom internet through the Natcom USB modem, even though his roommates with Macs can do so. What advice (for example, alternatives, such as a hotspot) would you give? He really needs (relatively) reliable Internet for his research there.
    Thanks!

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