Before you start

Passport for a prepaid SIM
Residence permit and CNP for a postpaid contract
A Romanian bank account for direct debit on most contracts
A lease or owner's permission for a fibre installation

Step-by-step

1
Buy a prepaid SIM on arrival
Digi, Orange, Vodafone and Telekom sell prepaid packs at the airport, in malls and in kiosks. Identification is required at registration. Data allowances are large by European standards and prices are very low.
In personWho: YouDay 1
2
Switch to postpaid once the permit and account exist
Postpaid plans need the residence permit, a CNP and usually a Romanian bank account for direct debit. Digi is consistently the price leader; the others compete on coverage and roaming bundles.
In personWho: You
3
Ask which operators have equipment in the block
Romanian buildings are wired by operators who install equipment in the block. If your preferred operator is not physically present, getting them means a building committee decision that may take months or simply not happen. Ask before signing a lease.
In personWho: You
4
Expect gigabit as standard rather than premium
Romanian fibre packages routinely start at speeds that are a premium tier elsewhere, at a fraction of Western European prices. Do not pay to upgrade to something that is the default here.
OnlineWho: You
5
Check coverage on the Florești corridor and in the hills
Cluj's newer housing has spread west into Florești and up onto the surrounding hillsides. Fibre coverage in the newest developments is generally good, but individual streets on the edges can lag. Ask specifically rather than trusting the map.
OnlineWho: You
6
Keep your number when you switch
Romania operates mobile number portability and it is quick. Never cancel the old contract before the port completes.
In personWho: You

Documents you’ll need

Passport for prepaid registration
Residence permit and CNP for postpaid
Romanian bank details for direct debit
Lease or landlord permission for fibre installation

Things most newcomers don’t know

Romania's fibre is world-class and in Cluj it is part of the industrial history, not just an amenity.

Romania consistently ranks at or near the top of global fixed broadband speed rankings, because the networks were built late, in dense apartment blocks, with fibre from the start and fierce competition between operators. Cluj's software sector grew in the 2000s on the back of that infrastructure combined with a very large engineering university. Gigabit in an ordinary block for a few tens of lei a month is not a perk here; it is one of the reasons the city exists in its current form.

Source: community-reported; operator tariffs

Which operators are already in the building decides your real choice.

Operators install equipment building by building. If Digi has no presence in your block, switching to Digi means a building committee decision and a construction job that may never happen. Asking 'which operators are in the block' at the viewing takes thirty seconds and prevents the most common broadband disappointment in Romania.

Source: community-reported

The Florești corridor grew faster than its infrastructure in every respect, broadband included.

Cluj's constrained buildable area pushed new housing west into Florești, which became one of the densest communes in Romania very quickly. Roads, schools and utilities have lagged the housing, and while the newest blocks are well connected, the pattern of infrastructure trailing construction applies to broadband as much as to the road network. Ask about the specific building rather than the development.

Source: community-reported

Mobile data is cheap enough that a second SIM is sensible redundancy.

Romanian mobile allowances are large and the prices low enough that a second SIM on a different operator costs very little. In a city where a great many people's income depends entirely on a home connection, and where a single building fault can take you offline for a day, that is a cheaper insurance policy than almost anywhere else in Europe.

Source: community-reported

Common mistakes to avoid

Signing a lease without asking which operators have equipment in the block.
Paying for a premium speed tier that is the standard offering here.
Trying to take a postpaid contract before the residence permit and CNP exist.
Assuming a new Florești development has the infrastructure its marketing implies.
Cancelling an old mobile contract before the number port completes.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

Make it your personal checklist

Globe Quest turns this into a tracked, AI-personalized plan for Cluj-Napoca — timed to your move date, with reminders so nothing slips. Free to start.