How to get Mobile Internet in Medellin: Which option to choose?

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Medellín is considered one of the prettiest cities in Colombia; The popular Feria de las Flores is hosted every year in this wonderful city. The city is very nice and pretty, and you probably don’t want to miss anything at all! So, it is vital to have access to a reliable internet connection in Medellín. In case you are not certain how to connect to the internet in this place, we have created this article to help you with it.

We are going to tell you about SIM and eSIM cards with cellular data, international roaming, and Pockets WiFi. Here you will find all you need to know about these alternatives and more. Prices, coverage, and many other details!

Contents

Mobile internet in Medellin using data

Nowadays, there are many alternatives to connect to a cellular network in Medellín to access the internet. Thanks to services like SIM and eSIM cards, international roaming, or public WiFi, you will be able to enjoy a fast and easy connection.

You can always ask for the international roaming service, but remember that it is one of the most expensive options.  

Mobile internet in Medellin: prices

Some of the alternatives we are going to tell you about can be very expensive, so it is vital to know about the prices of each of them, so you can pick the one that best suits your needs.

You can check the comparison table below, where you can find the basic prices of these alternatives.  

ServicePrice
T-Mobile Roaming$15/MB
Vodafone Roaming$6.05/MB (IVA included)
AT&T Roaming$2.05/MB
Renting a My Webspot Pocket Wifi512MB at $9.9/day. You have to rent it for at least three days.
Holafly SIM card8GB/12GB for 30 days at $34 and $47 each
Holafly eSIM card6GB for 15 days at $44
Public WifiFree
Table 1. Comparison of internet tariffs in Medellin.

SIM card to have the internet in Medellin

First off the list is the traditional SIM card with cellular data for Medellín. It is one of the best alternatives to avoid the expensive price of international roaming. With it, you will be able to connect to the internet at a reasonable price, and since it is a device we are used to, so activating and using it will be very simple.

If you want to buy this chip, we recommend you do it through a virtual store to avoid queuing at the airport, and you will be able to connect as soon as you land. Holafly is one of the best virtual stores, its SIM card for Medellín has many additional benefits, such as 24-hour customer service, support, and free shipping.

SIM card for Medellin: prices

  • 8 GB / 30 days / $34
  • 12 GB / 30 days / $47

eSIM card for Medellin

Another alternative you can choose is the new eSIM card for Medellín, also known as a virtual SIM card. They work just like the traditional SIM card, but the main difference is that instead of putting a plastic card in your smartphone, all you will have to do is to scan a QR code to activate it.

Since it is a virtual device, you have some additional benefits, like free and instant delivery from anywhere worldwide and others that will depend on your chosen provider. If you are interested in this alternative, we recommend you acquire a Holafly eSIM card for Medellín, which is available for an accessible price.

But wait! Before buying this product, you should make sure that your smartphone can support this technology because not all devices are eSIM compatible.

Holafly eSIM card for Medellín: prices

  • 6 GB for 15 days at $44

How to connect to the internet with cellular operators?

If you want to connect to the internet with the international roaming service of your domestic operator, you can do it, but you should know that it is a very expensive alternative. You can read below how to connect to the internet in Medellín and the cellular operators that offer international roaming.

Internet in Medellín with T-Mobile

T-Mobile is a USA operator, and if you are a regular customer of this company, you will be able to use international roaming during your trip to Medellín. The benefits you will have will depend on your current cellular plan with the company.

For example, if you currently have one of T-Mobile’s Simple Global plans active, you’ll be able to get unlimited text messages and data at no extra cost. You will only have to pay for the calls you make in Medellín, at only 0.25 USD per minute. 

However, if you have another T-Mobile plan, and you still want to use roaming services while traveling to Medellín, you can do so. You will have to pay 15 dollars per MB, 0.5 dollars per message sent, and 0.25 dollars per minute of call. 

Internet in Medellín with Vodafone

Vodafone is one of the best European cellular provider companies. So if you are a Vodafone user, you must pay $6.05 for each MB you use during your trip. The price is a little bit cheaper than T-Mobile, but we recommend you use your cellular data wisely, so you don’t have to spend an insane amount of money.

Internet in Medellín with AT&T

Finally, if you are an AT&T user, you will be able to connect to the internet depending on the method you prefer, as you will be able to pay for daily plans with the International Travel Pass or use the pay-per-use option.

First, you can choose to use the International Travel Pass, which costs $10 per day, allowing you to use your cellular services, such as data or calls. On the other hand, with the pay-per-use option, you’ll have to pay only for the services you consume, at the following rates:

  • Internet: $2.05 for every MB
  • Calls: $3 for each minute
  • SMS: $0.5 for each SMS sent to any destination.
  • Picture and video messages: $1.30 for each.

Pocket Wifi to have the internet in Medellin

One of the last alternatives is the Pocket WiFi for Colombia, the little pocket router that will provide cellular data access when you carry it with you.

One of its disadvantages is that it is a costly product because you have to pay for everything separately, in this case, for the device, the data plan, the shipping, the loss and anti-theft insurance, and other additional aspects. If you lose it, or you haven’t paid for the insurance, you will have to pay $100 or more.

Pocket WiFi Providers

Travelers WiFi: If you want to sign up for their services of this company, you have to pay a daily price of $16.4 to get 500 MB. If you exceed the daily limit, your speed will be lowered to 512kbps, until the following day. The shipping price is around €28.30, and you will also have to pay the Pocket WiFi return fee.

My Webspot: For a Webspot Pocket WiFi, you will have to pay a daily fee of $9.9 with 512 MB included per day. You have to rent it for at least three days, and the price of the anti-theft insurance is $15.90. Cheaper if you compare it with the €90 you will have to pay if you lose it.

Public Wifi in Medellin

The last and cheapest option to connect to the internet abroad is to use the public WiFi networks you will find in the city, which are pretty good and common.

This alternative is not recommended since it is not very safe, and your personal information can be easily stolen. And also, some of the zones where you can connect to the public WiFi are not very safe either.

We recommend you use this alternative for a short time. And try not to provide any important personal information, like your bank account number, or passwords.

Our recommendation

If, after reading this article, you are still not sure which alternative you want to use, we recommend you visit the Holafly virtual store and get an eSIM or SIM card for your trip. These cards will let you connect to the internet safely and for a rational price, with additional benefits, like free shipping, keeping your WhatsApp number, and other advantages like its excellent coverage.  

Frequent questions about how to connect to the internet in Medellin

What network frequencies are in Medellín?

The network frequencies you will find in this destination are the following: 700, 850, 900, 1700, 1900, 2100, and 2600. If your smartphone does not use the same frequencies, it will be a little bit complicated to connect, but it is not very probable, so don’t worry.

What cellular operators are in this city?

There are many cellular operators like Movistar, one of the main companies in this country. You will also find two other operators: Tigo and Claro.

What networks am I going to connect to in Medellín?

You may connect to 2G, 3G, and 4G.

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