SIM Card and Internet in Colombia 2026: Airport SIM in 12 Minutes, Which Carrier Wins in Each City, Best Data Plans, and Home Fiber Options

When Zoe — a 27-year-old New Zealand developer who arrived in Bogotá on a Tuesday morning in November 2025 — cleared customs at El Dorado Airport, she had one priority before anything else: a working SIM card. Her New Zealand roaming plan charged NZD 3 per megabyte — untenable for anything beyond directions to her Airbnb. She found the carrier kiosks airside in the arrival hall. She had her passport. She spent COP 25,000 (about USD 6) on a prepaid SIM and had a working number and data plan within 12 minutes of clearing passport control. What she did not know yet — what took her three weeks to optimize — was which carrier had the best coverage in her El Poblado neighborhood, which data plan gave the best GB-per-peso value, how to upgrade to a postpaid plan once she had a cédula de extranjería, and what the realistic home fiber internet options were for her apartment. This guide covers all of it in one place.

At the Airport: SIM Cards in El Dorado (Bogotá) and José María Córdova (Medellín)

Both major airports have carrier kiosks in the arrivals hall — no need to wait until you reach the city. In El Dorado (Bogotá): Tigo, Claro, and Movistar all have staffed kiosks in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 arrivals. In José María Córdova (Rionegro/Medellín): Tigo and Claro have kiosks in the arrivals hall. The airport SIM purchase requires only your passport — no cédula de extranjería needed for prepaid. A prepaid SIM (chip prepago) costs COP 2,000–5,000 and typically includes an initial data bonus (500MB–2GB depending on the carrier promotion). You'll need a local address for the form — your hotel or Airbnb address is fine. The activation is immediate: insert SIM, restart phone, you're online. Note: most modern smartphones are dual-SIM compatible — you can keep your home SIM active alongside the Colombian SIM.

Which Carrier: Tigo, Claro, or Movistar?

Coverage varies significantly by city and neighborhood, but the general pattern in 2026:

• Claro — largest network by tower count, best rural and inter-city coverage. Strongest option if you're traveling between cities or to smaller towns. 4G/LTE coverage in virtually all major cities. 5G available in Bogotá and Medellín select zones.
• Tigo — strongest in Medellín metro specifically, and competitive in Bogotá. Good indoor penetration in El Poblado and Laureles. Popular among the expat community in Medellín.
• Movistar — historically weaker coverage outside of Bogotá, though investing in network upgrades. Best value for prepaid data packages in some promotional periods. Check current offers at movistar.com.co.
• WOM and Éxito Móvil — smaller carriers (MVNOs) that offer competitive data pricing, often running on Tigo's network infrastructure. WOM has been aggressively pricing 4G plans — check their website for current offers.

The most reliable way to check coverage at your specific address: each carrier's website has a coverage map. Search "[carrier name] cobertura" + your neighborhood. In expat Facebook groups for your city, ask which carrier other residents in your specific building use — indoor penetration varies building by building.

Prepaid Data Plans: The Best Value in 2026

Colombian carriers run frequent promotional data packages. The current structure (August 2026):

• Tigo: Packages from COP 15,000 (10GB, 30 days) to COP 40,000 (30GB + unlimited WhatsApp/social media, 30 days). Purchase via Tigo app, website, or any Tigo store / Éxito supermarket.
• Claro: Similar range — COP 12,000 (8GB) to COP 35,000 (25GB + extras). Claro has "Mega Recargas" bundles available at convenience stores (Oxxo, Ara, D1) and online. Code *611# to check balance.
• Movistar: COP 14,900 (10GB) to COP 38,000 (unlimited social media + 20GB other). Check movistar.com.co for current promos.

Recharge (recarga) can be done: at any supermarket (Éxito, Carulla, D1, Ara, Oxxo), at carrier stores, via Nequi or Daviplata app, or at the carrier's app with a credit/debit card. Recharges are available 24/7 at digital channels — you don't need a physical store.

Postpaid Plans: Better Value, Requires Cédula de Extranjería

Once you have your cédula de extranjería, you can sign up for a postpaid plan (plan pospago) — monthly billing, typically better GB-per-peso value than prepaid, and often includes international minutes or data roaming. Postpaid contracts require: cédula de extranjería, proof of income (either bank statements or employer letter), and a Colombian bank account for the debit. Monthly costs: COP 35,000–80,000 for plans with 20–50GB + unlimited social media. The postpaid contract is typically 12-month, with an early termination penalty. For short stays (under 12 months), prepaid is more flexible.

Home Internet: Fiber Options by City

For remote workers and digital nomads in Colombian apartments, home fiber internet is the most reliable work option. The main providers:

• ETB (Bogotá only): Colombia's original telecom, now offering fiber in most Bogotá neighborhoods. Plans: COP 50,000–120,000/month for 100–500 Mbps. Installation: 3–5 business days after contracting. Requires cédula or passport.
• Claro Hogar: Available in Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla, Cartagena. Plans: COP 55,000–150,000/month for 100–1000 Mbps. Claro has the widest geographic coverage for home internet.
• Tigo Hogar: Strongest in Medellín metro. Plans: COP 50,000–140,000/month for 100–600 Mbps. Bundling with Tigo mobile gives discounts.
• Movistar Hogar: Available in major cities. Plans: COP 48,000–130,000/month. Check availability at movistar.com.co → "Hogar" → enter your address.

Installation for all providers takes 3–7 business days and requires someone to be present at the apartment. Building administration (portería/administración) approval may be needed for cable installation in some buildings. If you're in a furnished rental where the landlord includes internet, verify the actual speed with Speedtest.net before relying on it for work.