- Reliability
- High
Overall6/10Faster internet than about 60% of cities
Good to know
Good to Know
- Fiber-optic service in Quito is reliable and modern, with speeds up to 100+ Mbps at $30–60/month; Netlife is consistently rated the most reliable provider.
- All major mobile carriers (Claro, Movistar, CNT) offer solid 4G coverage in Quito—20–40 Mbps typical—and SIM cards cost around $4 with easy airport/retail activation.
- e-SIM activation before arrival is convenient and avoids airport queues, but lacks a local phone number (matters for app-based taxi/verification services); local prepaid SIM remains practical.
- Quito's fixed-broadband median speeds (201+ Mbps measured 2025) support video conferencing, streaming, and remote work reliably; cable and fiber providers have good upload speeds for VoIP.
- 5G is not yet commercially viable in Quito; plan on 4G LTE as the baseline mobile standard.
- Carefully review ISP contracts before signing—early termination fees can be substantial, and advertised speeds may not match real-world performance outside of Quito's central areas.
- Free WiFi is widely available in hotels, cafes, malls, and airports; use a VPN if connecting to public networks for security.
Providers
Netlife
- Type
- Fiber optic
- Notes
- Most consistent provider nationwide; recommended for remote workers
Plan Mid Range
- Price
- $40
- Speed Mbps
- 20
Plan High Speed
- Price
- $150
- Speed Mbps
- 100
Plan Entry Level
- Price
- $20
- Speed Mbps
- 10
- Description
- Entry-level plan (must ask about)
Claro
- Type
- Fiber/Cable
- Notes
- Major provider with fiber and cable options in Quito
CNT
- Type
- Fiber/DSL
- Notes
- State-owned operator; offers discounts for multiple packages
TV Cable
- Type
- Cable
- Notes
- Offers best speeds for relatively low prices; customer service reportedly poor
Typical Pricing Range
High Speed
- Price
- $30
- Price Upper
- $60
- Speed Range
- 100 Mbps or more
Entry Level
- Price
- $20
- Price Upper
- $25
- Speed Range
- 20–50 Mbps
Technologies Available
Fiber Optic (FTTH/FTTB)
- Coverage
- Available in Quito and other major cities
- Description
- Fiber-to-the-home and fiber-to-the-building services offered by Netlife, Xtrim, Claro, and CNT
Cable Broadband
- Coverage
- Larger cities including Quito
- Description
- Available through providers like TV Cable
DSL
- Coverage
- Primary option in areas not yet reached by fiber or cable
- Description
- Copper telephone line connections through CNT and regional providers
Mobile Carriers
Claro
- Coverage
- Broadest 4G LTE footprint in Ecuador; strongest in Quito
- Strengths
- Extensive urban and rural coverage; fast speeds in cities
- Network Type
- 4G LTE
- SIM Availability
- Available at airport kiosks and retail locations
Movistar
- Coverage
- Strong urban coverage; slower rural rollout
- Strengths
- Popular in cities; offers variety of prepaid plans
- Network Type
- 4G LTE
- SIM Availability
- Available at airport kiosks and retail locations
CNT
- Coverage
- State-owned; decent city coverage; strong in Amazon region
- Strengths
- Best signal in remote jungle areas
- Network Type
- 4G LTE
- SIM Availability
- More limited retail presence than Claro/Movistar
Connectivity Reliability Tier
high
Connectivity Reliability Tier Rationale
Quito has widespread fiber-optic and cable infrastructure with multiple providers, strong 4G/LTE mobile coverage (Claro/Movistar/CNT), e-SIM/SIM availability, and measured median fixed-broadband speeds exceeding 200 Mbps; however, contract enforcement and service variability across providers require due diligence on ISP selection.
Installation Costs
- Typical Fee
- $50
- Notes
- Often waived if bundled with phone or TV service
Fixed Broadband Speeds
- Measured 2024
- 93.78 Mbps median download; 88.85 Mbps median upload
- Urban Performance
- Residents of Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca experience strongest fixed-line performance
- Measured Early 2025
- 201.87 Mbps median download (Ookla Speedtest Global Index), placing Ecuador 51st globally
Mobile SIM And e-SIM
e-SIM Options
- Drawback
- No Ecuadorian phone number (matters for local app verification)
- Providers
- Holafly, Airalo, Saily, Roafly, Maya, e-SIM Prime, Nomad, and others
- Activation
- Instant online before arrival; no queue at airport
Pricing Example
- Price Low
- $9.90
- Price High
- $302
- Description
- Holafly unlimited data 1–90 days
Local SIM Cards
- Availability
- Widely available at airport kiosks, retail stores, supermarkets, pharmacies
- Startup Cost
- $4.00
- Prepaid Plans
- Available from all carriers; top-up available at retail outlets
- Registration Requirement
- Passport required; SIM activation possible in non-citizen name initially with later transfer
Mobile Speed And Coverage
- 5g Status
- Early-stage trials began 2025; commercial coverage remains very limited to parts of Quito and Guayaquil
- 4g Population Coverage
- 80.6% of population as of mid-2024 (ARCOTEL)
Typical City Speeds
- Reference
- Adequate for video calls and streaming
- Description
- 4G speeds in Quito typically 20–40 Mbps
Measured Speeds 2024 2025
- Median Mobile Download
- 25.13 Mbps (May 2024)
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 Quito
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.