ALIV eSIM — coverage, plans & network
Bahamas
Key highlights
- The Bahamas' second mobile operator, launched in Nassau in 2016 by Cable Bahamas
- eSIM sold in ALIV stores at the same price as a physical SIM — no online ordering
- Prepaid plans from Freedom5 — $5 for a day with 2 GB — to 30-day Liberty plans, per bealiv.com
- AviaeSIM's Bahamas eSIM is bought online and installed before you fly
About the operator
ALIV is the Bahamas' second mobile network, launched in Nassau in 2016 by Be Aliv Limited, part of the Cable Bahamas group, to end the long monopoly of BTC. It built a 4G LTE network across New Providence and Grand Bahama first and then out to the Family Islands, and it sells prepaid plans in two families: Freedom plans for a day or a week and 30-day Liberty plans.
ALIV also issues eSIMs — the same price as a plastic SIM — but only in its own stores, which is the detail that matters for a traveller: there is no online tourist eSIM to install before the flight. AviaeSIM's Bahamas eSIM fills that gap with a prepaid data plan delivered by email.
- Founded
- 2016
- Headquarters
- Nassau, Bahamas
- Group
- Cable Bahamas (Be Aliv Limited)
- Network
- 4G LTE
How to get the official ALIV eSIM: price, QR code, registration
ALIV's eSIM FAQ is clear: an eSIM costs the same as a physical ALIV SIM, and you get one by visiting an ALIV store — there is no online order or app purchase. The store gives you an activation QR code or walks you through the activation, and regular ALIV plans can be loaded on the eSIM; third-party guides note that when eSIM launched in late 2022 it was data-only, so check in store if you need local minutes. ALIV's plan page lists the prepaid plans: Freedom5 at $5 for one day with 2 GB, Freedom8 at $8 and Freedom15 at $15 for seven days with 1 GB or 3 GB, and 30-day Liberty plans from Liberty40 at $40 for 5 GB to Liberty70 at $70 for 14 GB, all auto-renewing. The FAQ says nothing about ID, but travel guides report that the store registers a prepaid line to your passport, so bring it.
AviaeSIM's prepaid Bahamas eSIM is the online route: pay by card, receive the QR code by email in minutes, install it before the flight and connect to local 4G on arrival with no store visit, no passport copy and no Bahamian top-up to manage.
ALIV local SIM vs AviaeSIM
| ALIV prepaid eSIM (in store) | AviaeSIM travel eSIM (Bahamas) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per GB | From about $2.50 per GB (Freedom5: 2 GB for $5, one day) to $8 per GB (Freedom8, Liberty40), per bealiv.com; the eSIM costs the same as a SIM | Plans for the Bahamas from $4.97; the price per GB is on each plan card |
| Activation | Visit an ALIV store; scan the QR code or follow the activation the store provides | QR code by email; installed in the phone's settings in about two minutes |
| Passport registration | Not mentioned in ALIV's eSIM FAQ; travel guides say the store registers a prepaid line to your passport | None; only an email address at checkout |
| Validity | 1, 7 or 30-day plans that renew automatically | Fixed validity per plan, counted from the first connection in the Bahamas |
| Support | ALIV stores, the myALIV app and 611 | AviaeSIM support by email, before and during the trip |
| Best for | Stays of a month or more, or a local number for calls | Cruise stops and resort weeks — landing connected without a store visit |
Checked 26 September 2026 on bealiv.com (eSIM FAQ, prepaid plans page, prepaid FAQ); the passport rule and the airport kiosks come from Bahamas SIM guides — confirm in store.
Network & technology
ALIV runs a 4G LTE network with strong coverage on New Providence (Nassau, Cable Beach, Paradise Island) and Grand Bahama (Freeport, Port Lucaya), and LTE on the main Family Islands — Abaco, Eleuthera, Exuma, Andros, Bimini and Long Island — with gaps on the smaller cays and at sea. Most phones sold in North America and Europe connect without any setting change. AviaeSIM's Bahamas plans connect to local 4G networks, so the coverage a visitor sees is the same island-by-island picture.
Reputation & market position
ALIV is the challenger that brought price competition and modern LTE to the islands, and travel guides point arrivals to its kiosks at Lynden Pindling airport and in Nassau. Its roaming packs cover the USA, Canada and the Digicel Caribbean countries for Bahamians travelling out. The recurring complaints in travel forums are the same as for any island network: pricey data by North American standards, and thin signal on the out islands and on boats.
Pros
- eSIM available in ALIV stores, priced like a physical SIM
- Short prepaid plans — Freedom5 at $5 for a day with 2 GB, Freedom15 at $15 for a week with 3 GB
- Plans can be renewed in the myALIV app, on bealiv.com, by WhatsApp or by dialling *200#
Cons
- eSIM is issued in store only; travel guides say a prepaid line is registered to a passport
- Prepaid plans renew automatically until you change plan or stop paying
- Coverage thins on the smaller cays and offshore
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 have an eSIM?
Yes. ALIV issues eSIMs for compatible iPhones and Android phones at the same price as a physical SIM, but only in its own stores — you cannot order one online. The store provides a QR code or activation steps, and regular ALIV plans can run on the eSIM.
Can I buy an ALIV eSIM online before my trip?
No — ALIV's FAQ sends you to the nearest ALIV store for an eSIM, and travel guides say the store registers a prepaid line to your passport. If you want to land in Nassau already connected, AviaeSIM's Bahamas eSIM is bought online, delivered by email and needs no registration at all.
How much does an ALIV prepaid plan cost?
ALIV's plan page lists Freedom5 at $5 for a day with 2 GB, Freedom8 at $8 and Freedom15 at $15 for a week with 1 GB or 3 GB, and 30-day Liberty plans from $40 for 5 GB. The eSIM itself costs the same as the plastic SIM. AviaeSIM's plans are priced per trip on the plan cards.
Is an ALIV eSIM worth it for a cruise stop or a week in the Bahamas?
For a month or more, or if you need a local number, an ALIV pack is reasonable. For a cruise day or a resort week, the store visit and plans that renew automatically outweigh the saving. A travel eSIM installed before you fly covers the stop without any of that.
Does an ALIV or travel eSIM work on the Family Islands and on cruise ships?
On land ALIV and the other local network cover the main Family Islands — Abaco, Eleuthera, Exuma, Bimini — with LTE, thinning on the small cays. At sea, a ship's own satellite network takes over and any eSIM stops working, so switch data off on board to avoid the ship's roaming rates.
Useful links
Other operators
Information updated: 2026-09