Vivacom eSIM — coverage, plans & network
Bulgaria
Key highlights
- Bulgaria's largest telecom overall, built on the incumbent BTC (corporatized 1992)
- Mobile service launched as Vivatel in 2005; rebranded Vivacom in 2009
- Part of United Group since 2020
- Launched Bulgaria's first commercial 5G network in 2020
- Repeated Ookla Speedtest award winner as Bulgaria's fastest mobile network
About the operator
Vivacom is Bulgaria's largest telecom and its incumbent operator. AviaeSIM prepaid travel eSIMs connect to the Vivacom network with no roaming fees. The brand belongs to the Bulgarian Telecommunications Company (BTC), corporatized in 1992: mobile service launched as Vivatel in 2005, the whole company rebranded to Vivacom in 2009, and since 2020 it has been part of United Group, the Balkans-wide operator.
From its Sofia headquarters, Vivacom runs Bulgaria's biggest overall telecom business across mobile, fiber and television. It launched the country's first commercial 5G network in 2020 and has repeatedly taken Ookla Speedtest awards as Bulgaria's fastest mobile network, competing head-to-head with A1 Bulgaria and Yettel.
For visitors, that network is what an AviaeSIM prepaid travel eSIM taps into: dependable data in Sofia and Plovdiv, along the Black Sea coast from Varna to Burgas and Sunny Beach, and up in ski resorts like Bansko and Borovets — activated by QR code before you land, with no store visit or ID registration.
- Founded
- 1992
- Headquarters
- Bulgaria
- Group
- United Group
- Network
- 4G, 5G
Network & technology
Vivacom's 4G/LTE covers nearly the entire Bulgarian population, and the operator launched the country's first commercial 5G in 2020, which now serves Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas and other cities. Speed is the network's calling card — it has repeatedly won Ookla Speedtest awards as Bulgaria's fastest mobile network. Coverage holds along the Black Sea coast and in the main mountain resorts, though remote high-mountain valleys can still see weak spots.
Reputation & market position
Vivacom is the heir of Bulgaria's state incumbent and today its largest telecom by overall business, spanning mobile, fixed broadband and TV. Under United Group's ownership since 2020 it has pushed hard on network speed and 5G, and its Ookla wins give it a performance-leader image. In pure mobile subscriber counts the market remains a tight three-way race with A1 Bulgaria and Yettel.
Pros
- Repeated Ookla Speedtest winner — Bulgaria's fastest mobile network
- First commercial 5G network in Bulgaria (2020)
- Solid coverage on the Black Sea coast and in Bansko and Borovets ski resorts
- An AviaeSIM travel eSIM on Vivacom skips the in-store ID registration a local SIM requires
Cons
- Remote mountain valleys can still have weak or no signal
- Buying Vivacom's own prepaid SIM means an in-store ID check
- Fastest 5G speeds are concentrated in the larger cities
Available plans
Countries covered
Get your Bulgaria eSIM from AviaeSIM — instant QR activation, no roaming fees.
How to activate
- 1Choose your destination and a plan on the Vivacom 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 Vivacom support eSIM?
Yes. Vivacom offers eSIM on its plans, and customers can have a profile issued or a plastic SIM swapped in its stores. Bulgarian SIMs are registered to an identity document, so that route means paperwork on arrival. An AviaeSIM prepaid travel eSIM connects to the Vivacom network without any of that — it arrives by email as a QR code and activates in minutes.
How do I get an eSIM on the Vivacom network as a visitor?
You have two options. The local route: visit a Vivacom store in Bulgaria with your passport and take one of its plans as an eSIM. The travel route: buy an AviaeSIM prepaid eSIM for Bulgaria online before your trip, scan the QR code from your email, and data starts working when you land in Sofia, Varna or Burgas.
How much does a Vivacom eSIM cost?
For Vivacom's own customers, the eSIM profile is normally a free or inexpensive part of the tariff — the plan itself is the real cost, and prices change, so check Vivacom's site for current offers. AviaeSIM's travel eSIMs on the Vivacom network are prepaid packages instead: one payment for a fixed amount of data, with no contract, monthly fee or roaming charges on top.
Is Vivacom coverage good on the Black Sea coast and in the mountains?
Yes. Vivacom covers the Black Sea resorts — Varna, Golden Sands, Burgas and Sunny Beach — as well as Bansko and Borovets in the mountains, and its network has repeatedly been rated Bulgaria's fastest by Ookla. Only remote high-mountain valleys may lose signal. A travel eSIM on this network comfortably handles a coast-plus-ski Bulgarian itinerary.
Useful links
Other operators
Information updated: 2026-07