- Reliability
- High
Overall5.2/10Faster internet than about 50% of cities
Good to know
Good to Know
- Average home Wi-Fi speeds of 69 Mbps download/20 Mbps upload are sufficient for remote work; fiber optic plans (500 Mbps–1 Gbps) widely available in central neighborhoods
- Movistar offers the best reliability and fastest speeds for home broadband; weather-resistant fiber-optic connections rare heavy outages
- 4G/5G mobile coverage is solid citywide; all three major carriers (Claro, Tigo, Movistar) have good coverage in El Poblado and other nomad areas
- Local prepaid SIM cards from Claro (2,000–30,000 COP) are cheaper than tourist e-SIMs for stays beyond 10 days but require passport registration at purchase
- e-SIMs (starting $2.90–$4.50 USD) offer instant digital activation without store visits; ideal for quick connectivity on arrival
- Always have a backup mobile connection (SIM or e-SIM with data) in case of home Wi-Fi interruptions during rain
- Passport required for all SIM card purchases—keep a copy handy when buying locally
Home Broadband
- Reliability
- Generally reliable; occasional interruptions during heavy rain or storms, but short-lived
Average Speeds
- Upload Mbps
- 20
- Download Mbps
- 69
Major Providers
Movistar
- Technology
- Fiber Optic (FTTH)
- Basic Plan Cost
- COP 70,000
- Basic Plan Speed
- 500
- Basic Plan Speed Unit
- Mbps
- Notes
- Highest reliability and speeds; weather-resistant
Claro
- Technology
- HFC and FTTH
- Basic Plan Cost
- COP 73,900
- Notes
- Largest market share; variable performance
Tigo
- Technology
- Mixed
- Notes
- Fast and reliable; may require Colombian ID for account setup
Fiber Optic Availability
- Speeds Available
- 500 Mbps to 1 Gbps
- Description
- Fiber optic widely available, especially in El Poblado and Laureles
e-SIM Options
- Availability
- 5G in Medellin where available; 4G LTE widespread
- e-SIM Activation
- Digital delivery via QR code; instant activation upon arrival
Tourist e-SIM Providers
eSIM4
- Networks
- Movistar and Tigo
- Data Options
- 1 GB to 5 GB
- Starting Price USD
- 4.5
ByteSIM
- Features
- Voice plans available with calls and SMS
- Networks
- Movistar (primary), Claro and Tigo (backup)
- Starting Price USD
- 2.9
Saily
- Validity
- 7 to 30 days
- Data Options
- 1 GB to 10 GB
Mobile Carriers
Claro
- Coverage
- Widest reach; 4G and 5G available
Prepaid SIM Plans
- Validity
- 7 to 30 days
- Data Range
- 2 GB to 30 GB
Price Range
- Maximum
- COP 30,000
- Minimum
- COP 7,000
Tigo
- Coverage
- Strong; consistent throughout city
- SIM Card Cost
- COP 20,000
Prepaid Data Plans
- Validity
- 7 to 30 days
- Data Range
- 3.5 GB to 10 GB
Price Range
- Maximum
- COP 20,000
- Minimum
- COP 10,000
Movistar
- Coverage
- Strong; 4G and 5G available
Prepaid SIM Plans
- Notes
- Flexible plans up to 90 days; voice and data options
Price Range
- Minimum
- COP 1,500
Connectivity Reliability Tier
high
Connectivity Reliability Tier Rationale
Medellin offers widespread fiber and cable broadband with generally reliable service, strong multi-carrier 4G/5G mobile coverage, and easy e-SIM/SIM access, though occasional weather-related interruptions occur.
Where To Buy SIM
Where To Buy SIM
- Airport kiosks (José María Córdova International Airport)
- Carrier stores (Claro, Movistar, Tigo)
- Supermarkets (Éxito, Carulla, Olímpica, ARA)
- Shopping malls (Oviedo Mall)
- Authorized retailers and pharmacies
Local SIM Card Costs
- Maximum
- COP 63,000
- Minimum
- COP 2,000
SIM Card Registration
- Requirement
- Passport registration mandatory by Colombian law
- Activation Time
- Few minutes to 1 hour
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this connectivity & internet research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Medellín
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.