ALIV eSIM — coverage, plans & network
The Bahamas
Key highlights
- Launched in November 2016 as the Bahamas' second mobile operator, ending a long monopoly
- Operated by Be Aliv Limited, part of the Cable Bahamas group
- 4G LTE coverage across New Providence, Grand Bahama and the main Family Islands
- Youthful challenger brand popular for data-first prepaid plans
About the operator
ALIV is the Bahamas' challenger mobile network, launched in Nassau in 2016 as the country's second carrier, bringing modern 4G LTE data and competition to islands that had known only one operator for decades.
The network is run by Be Aliv Limited, part of the Cable Bahamas family, and was born when the Bahamas liberalized its mobile market. From New Providence and Grand Bahama it has extended LTE across the main Family Islands, including Abaco, Eleuthera and Exuma, winning a substantial share of Bahamian subscribers with data-first prepaid plans and a distinctly local brand.
For visitors — cruise passengers stepping off at Nassau's Prince George Wharf, resort guests on Paradise Island, sailors island-hopping the Exumas — ALIV's network is one of two ways to get online locally. An AviaeSIM prepaid travel eSIM on the ALIV network installs by QR code before you sail or fly, so there's no hunt for a SIM shop between excursions.
- Founded
- 2016
- Headquarters
- The Bahamas
- Group
- Cable Bahamas
- Network
- 4G LTE
Network & technology
ALIV runs a 4G LTE network built from scratch in 2016, with its strongest, densest coverage on New Providence (Nassau) and Grand Bahama (Freeport) and service extending to the main Family Islands such as Abaco, Eleuthera and Exuma. As in any archipelago, performance is best in towns and around resorts, while remote cays and open-water stretches between islands can be patchy — worth knowing if you're sailing rather than staying in Nassau.
Reputation & market position
ALIV entered as the challenger that ended a decades-long mobile monopoly in the Bahamas and quickly won a substantial share of the market with data-first prepaid plans and a lively local brand. Bahamians tend to see it as the modern, youthful option; the incumbent retains an edge of familiarity and the longest-established rural footprint on the remotest islands.
Pros
- Modern 4G LTE network built new in 2016, without legacy equipment
- Strong data performance in Nassau, Paradise Island and Freeport
- Prepaid, data-first plan culture that suits short stays
Cons
- Coverage on remote cays and smaller Family Islands can be thin
- No network outside the Bahamas — international use depends on roaming partners
Available plans
Countries covered
Get your Bahamas eSIM from AviaeSIM — instant QR activation, no roaming fees.
How to activate
- 1Choose your destination and a plan on the ALIV 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 ALIV offer eSIM in the Bahamas?
ALIV sells its plans through its retail stores and app, and eSIM availability for local plans depends on your device and the plan you choose, so it's checked in store. If you'd rather arrive connected, an AviaeSIM prepaid travel eSIM works on the ALIV network and installs by QR code before you fly or sail — no store visit, queue or Bahamian paperwork.
What phone plans does ALIV have?
ALIV offers prepaid and postpaid plans combining data, minutes and texts, sold through its stores in Nassau, Freeport and the Family Islands; buying a local SIM as a visitor means presenting ID at the counter. For a vacation or cruise stop, AviaeSIM's prepaid travel plans on the ALIV network show the full price before you buy and skip the store entirely.
Will my phone work on a Bahamas cruise with ALIV?
On shore, yes: in Nassau, Freeport and the main islands your phone can use ALIV's LTE network, and an AviaeSIM travel eSIM connects to it automatically. At sea it's different — once the ship leaves port, phones latch onto the vessel's satellite-based maritime network, which land plans don't cover and which bills roaming at premium rates. Keep the travel eSIM for port days and use the ship's Wi-Fi offshore.
Can tourists buy an ALIV SIM in Nassau?
Yes — ALIV has stores in Nassau, including locations convenient to the cruise port and the airport, and visitors can buy a prepaid SIM with a passport. The trade-off is time: store hours, queues and setup eat into a short stay. Installing an AviaeSIM prepaid eSIM on the ALIV network before departure does the same job with no paperwork on the ground.
Useful links
Other operators
Information updated: 2026-07