A1 eSIM — coverage, plans & network
North Macedonia
Key highlights
- North Macedonia's largest mobile operator by subscribers
- Part of A1 Telekom Austria Group, majority-owned by América Móvil
- Formed by the 2015 merger of ONE and Vip (one.Vip); rebranded A1 in 2019
- Nationwide 4G plus 5G in Skopje and other larger cities
- AviaeSIM's North Macedonia travel eSIMs run on the A1 network
About the operator
A1 is North Macedonia's largest mobile operator, part of the A1 Telekom Austria Group, with nationwide 4G and 5G in the main cities. From Skopje to Ohrid, it is the network much of the country — and most visitors — end up using.
The operator was created by the 2015 merger of ONE and Vip mobile into one.Vip, which was rebranded A1 in 2019 as parent A1 Telekom Austria Group — itself majority-owned by América Móvil — unified its brands across seven Central and Eastern European markets. Alongside mobile service it sells fixed broadband and TV throughout the country.
For travelers, AviaeSIM's prepaid travel eSIMs in North Macedonia run on the A1 network. Instead of registering a local SIM with your passport at a store, you buy online, scan an emailed QR code and connect to A1's towers on arrival — handy for Skopje city breaks, Lake Ohrid summers and road trips through Mavrovo and Bitola.
- Headquarters
- North Macedonia
- Group
- A1 Telekom Austria Group
- Network
- 4G, 5G
How to get the official A1 eSIM: price, QR code, registration
A1 Macedonia issues eSIMs to postpaid and prepaid customers alike: at its points of sale, through the webshop when you order a phone, or by calling customer service on 077 1234. The profile is activated by scanning a QR code that you download together with the PIN and PUK; A1 does not publish an eSIM fee on either its postpaid or prepaid eSIM page. Prepaid data is bought as add-on bundles — the XXL bundle costs 299 MKD for the first 30 days when activated in the My A1 app and 499 MKD on renewal, and a 50 GB bundle is listed at 399 MKD per 30 days — with the money coming off your prepaid balance. The hurdle for visitors is registration: a prepaid number must be registered, and travel guides report that doing so without a local address can be difficult, so plan on a shop visit with your passport.
AviaeSIM's prepaid travel eSIM for North Macedonia runs on the A1 network and needs none of that: buy online before the trip, receive the QR code by email in minutes, install it at home and connect on arrival in Skopje or Ohrid.
A1 local SIM vs AviaeSIM
| A1 Macedonia prepaid SIM / eSIM | AviaeSIM travel eSIM (A1 network) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per GB | Bundles of 299–499 MKD per 30 days (XXL, 50 GB) — well under 10 MKD per GB | Plans for North Macedonia from $1.40; the price per GB is on each plan card |
| Activation | eSIM at a point of sale, via the webshop or 077 1234; QR code downloaded with PIN and PUK | QR code by email; installed in the phone's settings in about two minutes |
| Passport registration | Required — prepaid numbers must be registered; guides report difficulty without a local address | None; only an email address at checkout |
| Validity | 30-day bundles that renew from the prepaid balance | Fixed validity per plan, counted from the first connection in North Macedonia |
| Support | A1 shops, the My A1 app and 077 1234 | AviaeSIM support by email, before and during the trip |
| Best for | Longer stays and residents' bundle prices | City breaks and Ohrid holidays — connected on landing |
Checked 20 September 2026 on a1.mk; bundle prices are promotional and change monthly — confirm on the site.
Network & technology
A1's Macedonian network delivers 4G/LTE to the overwhelming majority of the population, including the Ohrid and Prespa lake regions and the main road corridors, with 5G live in Skopje and gradually expanding to other cities. As elsewhere in the Balkans, signal can thin out in high mountain terrain such as Sar Planina and in deep gorges, but towns and the popular tourist areas are well served.
Reputation & market position
A1 is one of the two networks that dominate North Macedonia's mobile market — the other being Makedonski Telekom — and holds the larger subscriber base. Locally it is known for competitive bundles and a wide retail presence, and the brand carries the weight of its Austrian parent group, regarded as a solid, engineering-driven operator across Central and Eastern Europe.
Pros
- Largest subscriber base in North Macedonia
- Strong 4G coverage including Ohrid and other tourist regions
- 5G live in Skopje and expanding
- Backing of the pan-regional A1 Telekom Austria Group
Cons
- Only two mobile networks operate in the country, so price competition is limited
- High mountain and gorge areas can have weak signal
- 5G is still concentrated in the biggest cities
Available plans
Countries covered
Get your Croatia eSIM or North Macedonia eSIM from AviaeSIM — instant QR activation, no roaming fees.
How to activate
- 1Choose your destination and a plan on the A1 network
- 2Pay and receive your eSIM QR code by email
- 3Scan the QR code in your phone's settings to install it
- 4Turn on data roaming for the eSIM when you arrive
Frequently asked questions
Does A1 in North Macedonia offer a prepaid eSIM?
Yes. A1 Macedonia has a prepaid eSIM alongside the postpaid one, issued at its points of sale, via the webshop with a phone order or by calling 077 1234; you download the QR code with the PIN and PUK and scan it. A1 does not publish a fee for the eSIM itself; the data comes from prepaid bundles.
Is there an A1 tourist SIM in North Macedonia?
A1 does not market a dedicated tourist SIM; visitors buy a regular prepaid number and add a data bundle such as XXL (299 MKD for the first 30 days in the My A1 app). Registration of the number is required and guides report it can be awkward without a local address. AviaeSIM's eSIM on the A1 network is the tourist option that needs no registration.
How much does an A1 eSIM cost?
A1 lists no separate eSIM fee on its eSIM pages, so the cost is the prepaid starter and the bundle you add — 299 MKD for the XXL bundle's first month, 499 MKD on renewal, or a 50 GB bundle at 399 MKD per 30 days, per a1.mk on 20 September 2026. AviaeSIM's North Macedonia plans show one price in USD at checkout.
How do I get the A1 eSIM QR code?
A1 provides the QR code for download together with the PIN and PUK once the eSIM is issued at a shop, through the webshop or by phone; scan it under Settings → Mobile Data → Add eSIM. An AviaeSIM QR code arrives in your confirmation email and account and installs the same way — then switch data roaming on for the eSIM in North Macedonia.
Which network does AviaeSIM use in North Macedonia — is it A1?
AviaeSIM's prepaid travel eSIMs for North Macedonia run on the A1 network — the country's largest, with 4G and 5G in Skopje, Ohrid and the main towns — so coverage matches a local A1 prepaid line. AviaeSIM is an independent brand using A1 infrastructure; purchase and support are with AviaeSIM.
Useful links
Other operators
Information updated: 2026-07