A map of Bulgaria showing the 3G and 4G coverage of one of the mobile operators. Veliko Tarnovo, where we are based, also benefits from the 4G connection.
As promised our new blog is about mobile phone networks, operators and plans. There are three major mobile phone operators in Bulgaria – Vivacom, Telenor and Mtel. The services and prices they provide are comparable. Within each provider prices per minute vary – you have to choose a mobile plan and decide what you want included in it and then see how much they will charge you. Generally speaking the longer the contract – the lower the price, the higher your monthly fee is – the lower prices per minute are. Also you can receive different amount of free minutes to spend talking and MB to spend surfing (we will talk about the internet in another blog but we now have 4G connection in Bulgaria) again depending on the monthly plan you select. These operators also have additional services like providing TV and landlines so combining them with you mobile plan means you will get even further discounts.
As everywhere around the world here you can have a pay-as-you-go SIM card or go for a contract. As expected prices per minute will be much favourable if you choose the contract. An important note to make here is that to get a prepaid SIM card you have to register it to your name – that is when you are buying it you have to show a valid ID. Top up vouchers can be purchase across the country virtually from everywhere – gas stations, post offices, supermarkets, newsstands, mobile operators’ offices
Here are links to the three major mobile phone operators:
Telenor http://www.telenor.bg/en the best site in English of all three.
Vivacom https://www.vivacom.bg/en/about/about-us/company/who-are-we
Mtel https://www.mtel.bg/bg no English version here, sorry.
As a whole Bulgaria’s mobile phone network is extensive, covering the entire country. Mobile reception is generally very good; problems occur only in very remote and mountainous areas.
Next time we will tell you more about how and where you can pay your bills.
Images: Internet
An article published in yesterday’s issue of Yantra Dnes Newspaper says that the property market in Veliko Tarnovo is starting to feel the pressure of a different crisis – there are no more properties left which can meet clients’ demands. The article also points that people are now oriented towards buying fully-furnished and equipped newly-built apartments. The demand is highest for 1- and 2-bedroom apartments. Clients are willing to give more than 40,000 euro if such an apartment meets their criteria. However these are the properties which are hardest to be found these days. The market is starved for good-quality apartments and they are nowhere in sight. 
