- Reliability
- High
Overall8/10Faster internet than about 80% of cities
Good to know
Good to Know
- Fiber (FTTH) is broadly available in central Thessaloniki and expanding neighborhoods, making it more reliable than older VDSL/ADSL connections; check address-level availability before commitment
- Cosmote offers the strongest 5G network and fastest average speeds; Vodafone is competitive in urban areas; Nova is cheaper but more variable in coverage quality
- Prepaid SIM cards start under €15 and are easiest to obtain from street vendors in tourist areas or carrier stores; bring your passport for registration
- e-SIM is a convenient option for quick setup before arrival or upon landing without a store visit; third-party providers offer both Nova/Vodafone e-SIMs and data-only plans
- Mobile speeds in Thessaloniki are sufficient for video calls, streaming, and daily remote work; fiber broadband at home is strongly recommended for consistent high-speed uploads/downloads
- Fair-use roaming policies apply—EU residents enjoy roaming in other EU countries at no extra charge with their Greek prepaid plan, but check provider terms for data limits
Home Broadband
- Overview
- Thessaloniki has strong fiber-optic infrastructure with multiple providers offering high-speed options. FTTH (Fiber-to-the-Home) is widely available in urban areas.
- Reliability Notes
- Fiber areas show strong reliability. Copper-based (VDSL/ADSL) areas experience speed variability. Average fault repair time for INALAN: 1-4 hours.
Providers
INALAN
- Coverage
- City center, Toumba, Pylaia and surrounding areas
- Technology
- FTTH (Fiber-to-the-Home)
- Notes
- True FTTH with symmetrical speeds, low latency, no speed degradation
Typical Plans
per month
- Price
- €28
- Speed Mbps
- 300 Mbps symmetrical
per month
- Price
- €34
- Speed Mbps
- 1 Gbps symmetrical
HCN
- Coverage
- Thessaloniki and expanding
- Technology
- Fiber-optic
- Notes
- Privately-owned fiber network, locally-based provider
Cosmote
- Coverage
- Citywide, through OTE Group infrastructure
- Technology
- VDSL and FTTH (FiberGrid expansion)
- Notes
- Major national provider, expanding fiber offerings
Nova
- Coverage
- Urban areas
- Technology
- VDSL, ADSL, expanding FTTH
- Notes
- Speeds up to 200 Mbps VDSL, expanding to 1 Gbps fiber in cities
SIM And e-SIM
- Activation
- Physical SIM: activated in-store or via provider app; e-SIM: activated online via QR code within minutes
- e-SIM Support
- Yes — Cosmote supports e-SIM; third-party e-SIM providers (Holafly, Airalo, BitJoy, Gigago) offer e-SIM service on Vodafone and Nova networks
- Passport Requirement
- Required for SIM registration (photo or copy taken by provider)
- Physical SIM Availability
- Available at carrier stores (Cosmote, Vodafone, Nova), airport kiosks, convenience stores (OK, Smile, AB Shop & Go), and street vendors in tourist areas
Major Carriers SIM Samples
Cosmote
- Mid Plan
- €15 (~$17) for 4.5 GB, unlimited local calls, 400 SMS
- Entry Plan
- €13 (~$15) for 2.5 GB, 1000 local minutes, 300 SMS
Vodafone
- Entry Plan
- €18.10 (~$21) for 25 GB, 200 local minutes
- Premium Plan
- €27 (~$31) for unlimited data, 200 local minutes
Nova (FREE2GO)
- Mid Plan
- €15 (~$17) for 6.5 GB, unlimited local calls, 500 SMS
- Entry Plan
- €13 (~$15) for 3.5 GB, 1000 local minutes, 300 SMS
- Premium Plan
- €20 (~$23) for 11.5 GB, unlimited local calls, 1000 SMS
Prepaid Tourist Plans Range
- Maximum Price
- €27
- Minimum Price
- €13
- Notes
- Entry-level plans include 2.5–3.5 GB data, 300–1000 minutes, 300–400 SMS; premium plans offer unlimited data and calls; valid for 7, 15, or 30 days
Mobile Networks
Primary Operators
Cosmote
- 4g Coverage
- 99% population coverage in Thessaloniki and Athens
- 5g Coverage
- Extensive, with 5G SA (standalone) available; 50%+ coverage as of 2026
- Reliability
- Highest average speeds, consistently ranked fastest mobile network
- Average Mobile Speeds Mbps
- 30-40 Mbps 4G, 150+ Mbps 5G in urban areas
Vodafone
- 4g Coverage
- 97% population coverage
- 5g Coverage
- 65% availability
- Reliability
- Competitive, good in urban centers and tourist areas; some rural inconsistency reported
- Average Mobile Speeds Mbps
- 25-35 Mbps 4G, 120+ Mbps 5G
Nova (Formerly Wind Hellas)
- 4g Coverage
- 94% population coverage, focused on major cities
- 5g Coverage
- 55% availability
- Reliability
- More variable, strongest in tourist attractions; weaker in rural areas
- Average Mobile Speeds Mbps
- 20-30 Mbps 4G
Connectivity Reliability Tier
high
Connectivity Reliability Tier Rationale
Extensive fiber-optic (FTTH) availability in urban areas with multiple competing providers, strong mobile 4G/5G coverage (particularly Cosmote at 99% population coverage in Thessaloniki), and reliable e-SIM/SIM options from established carriers create robust connectivity infrastructure for remote workers.
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.
- 1.inalan.gr
- 2.inalan.gr
- 3.expatfocus.com
- 4.greekanalyst.substack.com
- 5.hcn.gr
- 6.rejnac.com
- 7.greeceindex.com
- 8.greeceesim.com
- 9.esim.holafly.com
- 10.prepaid-data-sim-card.fandom.com
- 11.thebitjoy.com
- 12.yesim.app
- 13.gigago.com
- 14.traveltomtom.net
- 15.realgreekexperiences.com
- 16.gigago.com
- 17.greeceesim.com
- 18.ohayu.com
More About Thessaloniki
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.