Free “CRL Free WiFi” works airport‑wide; Mobile Shop is filler.
In T1 at Charleroi, Mobile Shop mainly acts as a basic connectivity stop inside the Schengen departures area, not the deep SIM-counter you might expect. Travellers regularly report on Reddit that they struggle to find Belgian SIM cards at CRL, and review sites don’t list any serious mobile retailer here. Treat this as a small add‑on stand, not a full telecom store like you’d see in Brussels Airport (BRU) or Brussels‑Midi station.
Hours loosely track the main T1 schedule, often opening by 05:00 for early Ryanair departures and closing after the last evening wave around 22:00–23:00, but there’s no guarantee on exact times. Stock typically leans toward accessories: charging cables, basic earbuds, power banks and maybe a few prepaid top‑ups rather than full starter SIM packs. Prices in similar CRL outlets sit a few euros above city shops for cables and chargers, so treat anything you buy here as a last‑minute fix, not a bargain hunt.
Regulars on FlyerTalk suggest buying a Belgian or EU SIM in Brussels city before heading to CRL, then just using the free “CRL Free WiFi” SSID in T1 as backup. If your roaming plan covers the EU, that plus airport Wi‑Fi is usually smoother than hunting for a local SIM at Charleroi. Final tip: charge to at least 70% at your hotel or the Brussels‑South (Midi) station, then use Mobile Shop only if a cable fails or your power bank dies right before boarding in T1.