Updates for Brazil - general

[ranerio]

Originally Posted by mingelli

HI

one more question, what is likely connection speed with TIM in Rio? Is it 7.2Mbps like in Europe or slower? And if slower is there any other company offering pre paid sims with faster connection?
Thanks

You can check coverage info given by users at Mapa com Sinal 3G no Brasil

It's hardly 1 Mbps the connection, with any operator.

Claro also offer prepaid data only SIMs . The offer is at Claro Data offers

The plan is R$34.90 for 7 days, data limit is 700 Mbytes and speed is 500 kbps. They give no information on how to activate the plan on their website, probably it has to be done at the store when you buy the SIM card.

Vivo also offers daily, weekly and monthly plans for data. They are described here Vivo prepaid data only offers

The price is as follows:
1 day - 150 Mbyte data transfer - R$12.00
7 days - 250 Mbyte data transfer - R$35.00
30 days - 1 Gbyte data transfer - R$130.00
max speed is 1 Mbps

As for actual speeds, it is usually said VIVO is speedier, and TIM is slower and Claro is a in-between. My personal experience is

• Vivo has been slower than dial up both in Brasilia and Salvador
• TIM is blazing speed even in the "Infinity pre" in Brasilia
• Claro is good speed in the mobile phone but never had in a PC.

The usual disclaimer applies, your mileage may vary.