Will Your Phone Work in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands?

If You Purchased Your Phone Unlocked

Good job! Your phone is ready to go. As long as it meets the conditions in the two sections below, you will be able to use your phone in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands.

If You Purchased Your Phone Through a Network Operator

Generally, when a phone is purchased through a network operator, it will come locked to the network from which you bought your phone. This means that you will only be able to use it with a SIM card from that said operator.

To use a phone on a different network than the one it was purchased from, such as the local network in the Cook Islands, you will need to unlock it. To do so, refer to your contract and see what the fee is to unlock your phone, as well as the timeframe.

In many cases, phones can be unlocked for under $50 if you have been with an operator for 6 or 12 months.

You can also unlock phones through phone unlocking stores, which can be found almost everywhere, including your local mall. This is usually more expensive than doing it through your network operator, but is typically quicker and more convenient.

GSM Compatibility

The Cook Islands phone network uses GSM technology. This is the newest cellphone network technology as opposed to the older CMDA one. You'll find that almost all phones have used GSM technology since around 2017.

To ensure that your phone works in the Cook Islands, it must support GSM technology.

To find out if your phone supports GSM technology, refer to your user manual (which will likely be on your phone). One more thing; a phone working on a CMDA network could be supporting GSM as well, as many phones have dual compatibility (dual-band). Phones that have tri-band and quad-band compatibility will also work in the Cook Islands.

Internet Compatibility

You will also want to be able to browse the web and use CookIslandsPocketGuide.com throughout your entire trip, right? Although there are Wi-Fi hotspots around the Cook Islands, accessing the internet is more cost-effective through the local phone network.

For your phone to use the internet (data) in the Cook Islands, it must be compatible with the following frequencies:

• 2G: 900 MHz
• 3G: 900 MHz
• 4G/LTE: 700 MHz & 1800 MHz (Bands 28 and 3 respectively)

You can force 4G when in coverage by doing one or more of the following:

• Ending all data sessions
• Putting your device in flight mode for around 90 seconds
• Powering your mobile off and on.

See where 3G and 4G are available in The Best SIM Card in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands for Travellers.

Note that 5G, VoLTE and VoWiFi are not yet available in the Cook Islands.

Is Your Phone Compatible with the Cook Islands eSIM?

Vodafone Cook Islands offers eSIM services for compatible devices. Most modern, unlocked smartphones that support eSIM will work, but it's important to check your device's compatibility.

To confirm if your phone supports eSIM, you can dial USSD code *#06# — if an EID number appears, your device supports eSIM. eSIMs can be activated online or in-store and come with prepaid travel plans.

You can also check out a list of compatible phones on the Vodafone Cook Islands website.

Most apps will work just fine in the Cook Islands. Apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, Viber, Google Maps, TikTok, etc., all work. Bear in mind, however, that if you are using a local SIM or eSIM, you will need to confirm your new phone number on apps, like WhatsApp, that are connected to your phone number.

Note that some apps are geo-locked and will only work when linked to a country-specific SIM; therefore, be aware that some apps may not function properly in the Cook Islands. You may need to create a different account here in the Cook Islands and subscribe from here. This is mostly true for apps that deal with copyrighted work, such as music or videos, like Spotify.

A Word of Warning: Set Up 2-Step Verification

Apple, Google, and Outlook (Microsoft) accounts have an auto-detection system that triggers a security check when connecting from a different country. Make sure you have an alternative option to a phone number for the security check. Otherwise, you might be locked out of your accounts for the duration of your holiday. Security questions or the Authenticator app are the recommended options.