Internet in Medellín — fiber is widespread, mobile 5G is solid
Medellín has come a long way. Citywide averages still land around 50 Mbps due to older neighborhoods, but El Poblado and Laureles fiber installations now routinely deliver 100-300 Mbps symmetric on Claro, Movistar, or Tigo fiber. Coworking spaces and newer apartment buildings typically offer 200-300 Mbps. 4G coverage is excellent citywide; 5G is live in most of El Poblado, Laureles, Envigado, and Centro.
For remote work, Medellín’s connectivity is dependable for daily video calls, large uploads, and cloud workflows. The main risk is older buildings in Laureles or Envigado still running on copper DSL (20-40 Mbps). Always test the line before signing a lease.
Providers and options
Average Speed
100 Mbps (fiber areas)
Reliability
High
| Provider | Type | Speed | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claro Hogar | Fiber/Cable | 100-500 Mbps | Widest fiber coverage in Medellín. Plans from COP 80k/month (~USD 20). |
| Movistar Fibra | Fiber | 100-300 Mbps | Strong in El Poblado and Laureles. Competitive pricing on annual contracts. |
| Tigo Une | Fiber/HFC | 100-600 Mbps | Fast cable + fiber hybrid. Good bundled TV deals. |
| ETB | Fiber | 100-300 Mbps | Local provider, decent in select zones, cheaper for basic plans. |
| Mobile (Claro/Movistar/Tigo) | 4G/5G | 50-400 Mbps | Prepaid SIM from USD 8/month with 15-25 GB. eSIM on Claro and Movistar. |
Tips for reliable connectivity
Always have a backup. Grab a local prepaid SIM or eSIM as a hotspot fallback. Claro and Movistar sell 20 GB prepaid plans for ~USD 10/month. Tigo eSIM activates in 5 minutes via their app. Tether your phone if home fiber drops.
Check before you rent. Ask the landlord (or Airbnb host) to run a speed test from the unit itself — not the building’s common WiFi. Screenshot the result. If they can’t or won’t, assume the speed is unreliable. El Poblado and Laureles are safest bets; some Envigado buildings still run on slow DSL.
eSIM for travelers. If your phone supports it, Airalo or Holafly Colombia eSIMs cover your first days at USD 15-25 for 10 GB / 14 days. Then switch to a Claro or Movistar local SIM at any mall kiosk for better value.
Use a VPN on public WiFi. Cafe and coworking WiFi is usually open or shared-password. Mullvad (USD 5/month) or Proton VPN protect sensitive work. Avoid banking on unprotected WiFi.
Best-connected neighborhoods
El Poblado (Provenza, Manila, Astorga) — Densest fiber coverage in the city. Most buildings offer Claro or Movistar fiber at 200-300 Mbps. Coworking spaces routinely hit 250+ Mbps.
Laureles (around Carrera 70 and Primer Parque) — Good fiber on newer buildings; older ones may cap at 50-80 Mbps. Check the exact address — the difference between two blocks can be dramatic.
Envigado (Parque Envigado, Oviedo) — Mixed. Newer apartment towers have 150-300 Mbps fiber. Older houses may still run on 20-40 Mbps DSL. Ask before committing.
Avoid relying on home WiFi in: Centro, Comuna 13, and outer barrios where infrastructure is thinner. If you want to stay there, pair with a strong 4G/5G mobile backup.