# eSIM for Central Africa: Gabon, Cameroon and the Congos

One country pack per country, or one Global eSIM for a trip that crosses borders. Cameroon is the country that decides which.

Published 2026-10-23, updated 2026-10-23. Page: https://inboxesim.com/guides/central-africa-esim

## Which plan covers which country

| Country | Country pack network | Africa pack | Global |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Gabon](/gabon) | Airtel | Yes | Yes |
| [Cameroon](/cameroon) | Orange | No | Yes |
| [Congo](/congo) | Airtel | Yes | Yes |
| [DR Congo](/dr-congo) | Airtel | Yes | Yes |

Gabon, Congo and DR Congo are all on Airtel, which runs networks in all three. The [Africa regional pack](https://inboxesim.com/africa-regional) covers those three on one QR, but not Cameroon. A trip that includes Cameroon needs a [Cameroon pack](https://inboxesim.com/cameroon) for those days, or [Global](https://inboxesim.com/global), which covers all four. Equatorial Guinea is not on any of our plans yet.

## Prices today

**Gabon** (https://inboxesim.com/gabon)

| Data | Validity | Price (USD) | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $5.90 | https://inboxesim.com/gabon?fare=hook |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $14.90 | https://inboxesim.com/gabon?fare=light |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $21.90 | https://inboxesim.com/gabon?fare=mid |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $42.90 | https://inboxesim.com/gabon?fare=fat |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $78.90 | https://inboxesim.com/gabon?fare=big |

**Cameroon** (https://inboxesim.com/cameroon)

| Data | Validity | Price (USD) | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $6.90 | https://inboxesim.com/cameroon?fare=hook |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $17.90 | https://inboxesim.com/cameroon?fare=light |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $26.90 | https://inboxesim.com/cameroon?fare=mid |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $52.90 | https://inboxesim.com/cameroon?fare=fat |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $130.90 | https://inboxesim.com/cameroon?fare=big |

**Congo** (https://inboxesim.com/congo)

| Data | Validity | Price (USD) | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $6.90 | https://inboxesim.com/congo?fare=hook |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $16.90 | https://inboxesim.com/congo?fare=light |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $26.90 | https://inboxesim.com/congo?fare=mid |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $66.90 | https://inboxesim.com/congo?fare=fat |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $121.90 | https://inboxesim.com/congo?fare=big |

**DR Congo** (https://inboxesim.com/dr-congo)

| Data | Validity | Price (USD) | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $4.90 | https://inboxesim.com/dr-congo?fare=hook |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $15.90 | https://inboxesim.com/dr-congo?fare=light |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $23.90 | https://inboxesim.com/dr-congo?fare=mid |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $42.90 | https://inboxesim.com/dr-congo?fare=fat |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $76.90 | https://inboxesim.com/dr-congo?fare=big |

**Africa regional** (https://inboxesim.com/africa-regional)

| Data | Validity | Price (USD) | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $8.90 | https://inboxesim.com/africa-regional?fare=hook |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $26.90 | https://inboxesim.com/africa-regional?fare=light |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $38.90 | https://inboxesim.com/africa-regional?fare=mid |

**Global** (https://inboxesim.com/global)

| Data | Validity | Price (USD) | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $6.90 | https://inboxesim.com/global?fare=hook |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $20.90 | https://inboxesim.com/global?fare=light |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $32.90 | https://inboxesim.com/global?fare=mid |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $61.90 | https://inboxesim.com/global?fare=fat |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $107.90 | https://inboxesim.com/global?fare=big |

## Will my home SIM roam for free?

Probably not yet. The six CEMAC countries (Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Chad, Equatorial Guinea and the Central African Republic) adopted a free roaming rule in August 2020, but by April 2024 only 2 of 213 planned links between operators were working, and in March 2025 ministers gave operators three more months to finish. In November 2025 Gabon and Equatorial Guinea launched CEMAC Zero Roaming for each other's local subscribers. DR Congo is not a CEMAC member. If your phone plan is from outside the region, none of this applies: you pay your carrier's roaming rates.

## Networks and coverage

- Gabon: two networks, Moov Africa and Airtel. Good signal in Libreville and the cities, thin in the forest interior. More on the [Gabon page](/gabon).
- Cameroon: Orange has 50.08% of the market, MTN 47.26% and Camtel 2.67%. Airtel has no network there, which is why the Africa pack leaves it out.
- Congo: two networks, MTN (62.1% of subscribers at the end of 2025) and Airtel (37.9%).
- DR Congo: 4G covered 57% of the country in September 2025, and nearly 3,000 localities had no mobile coverage at all.
- Airtel says 4G was on 94.2% of its sites across its French-speaking African countries in mid-2026.

> Outside the capitals, save offline maps and download what you need on hotel Wi-Fi before a long road trip.

## Buying a local SIM instead

A local SIM is often cheaper per GB, but it must be registered in your own name with your passport. Gabon's regulator ordered every unregistered or wrongly registered SIM blocked in December 2024, so a SIM lent by a driver or a hotel may stop working. An eSIM needs no registration and works from the moment you land.

## Shutdowns and power cuts

- Election days can bring internet cuts. Congo cut the internet nationwide in March 2026, as it did in 2016 and 2021; Gabon did in August 2023 and Cameroon saw a nationwide disruption in October 2025. No eSIM works around a national shutdown.
- Power cuts spread across Greater Libreville in early 2026. A power bank keeps your phone, and your maps, going.

## Sources

- Agence Ecofin via Osiris: CEMAC free roaming rule: https://osiris.sn/le-reglement-communautaire-de-la-cemac-confirme-la-suppression-des-frais-de.html (read 2026-10-23)
- Osiris: Central Africa gives itself three months for free roaming: https://www.osiris.sn/les-pays-d-afrique-centrale-se-donnent-trois-mois-pour-lancer-le-free-roaming.html (read 2026-10-23)
- EcoMatin: Gabon and Equatorial Guinea free roaming: https://ecomatin.net/telecoms-la-guinee-equatoriale-et-le-gabon-signent-un-accord-pour-instaurer-le-roaming-gratuit (read 2026-10-23)
- Osiris: Airtel in French-speaking Africa: https://osiris.sn/afrique-francophone-airtel-affiche-un-revenu-en-hausse-d-environ-20-au-1er.html (read 2026-10-23)
- ART data via EcoMatin: Cameroon mobile market: https://ecomatin.net/cameroun-orange-capte-50-du-marche-mobile-et-creuse-lecart-avec-mtn-selon-lart (read 2026-10-23)
- ARPCE via EcoMatin: Congo mobile market: https://ecomatin.net/congo-les-revenus-de-mtn-et-airtel-tombent-a-125-milliards-fcfa-le-plus-bas-depuis-cinq-ans (read 2026-10-23)
- Ecofin Agency: DR Congo coverage: https://www.ecofinagency.com/news-digital/1108-58091-dr-congo-subsidizes-four-telecom-operators-to-connect-40-localities (read 2026-10-23)
- Gabonreview: Arcep orders unregistered SIMs blocked: https://www.gabonreview.com/gabon-larcep-ordonne-le-blocage-immediat-des-cartes-sim-non-ou-mal-identifiees/ (read 2026-10-23)
- Telecoms.com: Congo election internet cut: https://www.telecoms.com/telecoms-law/internet-goes-down-in-congo-in-time-for-the-election (read 2026-10-23)
- The Record: Gabon internet restored after coup: https://therecord.media/gabon-internet-restored-after-coup (read 2026-10-23)
- Reuters via Daily Monitor: Cameroon internet disrupted: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/cameroon-s-internet-access-disrupted-as-election-protests-continue-5242706 (read 2026-10-23)
- Ecofin Agency: Libreville blackouts: https://www.ecofinagency.com/news-industry/0503-53504-gabon-president-presses-utility-for-solutions-as-blackouts-hit-libreville (read 2026-10-23)