Home Internet in Mexico - How to live in Mexico

In this publication, we will talk about Internet services, the main Internet providers available in most cities in Mexico, their tariff plans, additional services and planned costs. Before you begin your search for an Internet service provider, it is important to understand that there is no such thing as «best internet». Firstly, you need to look for exactly the package of services that meets your specific needs, and secondly, the quality and stability of the Internet may vary from area to area and even from building to building. It is best to ask your neighbors about the quality of Internet services or connect to your provider in test mode.

A good download speed is considered to be at least 20 Mbit/s, and a good upload (upload) speed — at least 3 Mbit/s. Some users need greater speed, others — smaller, but for most 20 Mbps — this is good internet speed. At 20Mbps, you're free to stream Netflix or YouTube, attend Zoom meetings, and play most online games on one or two devices. Internet packages are usually named by their download speed; Let's say, a tariff with 20 Mbit/s for downloading and 3 Mbit/s for uploading will most often be called «Internet 20 megabytes».

Minimum and highly recommended speed for browsing the Internet:

In addition, you will need to take into account how many people and devices will simultaneously connect to the Internet. Don't forget about devices that connect in the background, particularly smart home technologies. You live with a roommate, and each of you has a laptop, a smartphone, and a games console. If all six devices are in use at the same time, you will need enough bandwidth to cover all six connections simultaneously. But if only two of them are working at the same time, the slower Internet speed may be quite enough.

The most popular Internet packages from the main providers in Mexico are:

Over the past few years, it's not just the number of Internet companies that have grown in Mexico's communications services market. The way services are provided has also changed. Until a few years ago, Internet services were offered mainly through a telephone line, so it was also necessary to conclude a contract for fixed-line telephone services. But at the moment, the most widely used and safe are fiber optic cables. Another current method of delivering the Internet to homes is wireless Internet, supplied by cellular companies and received with the support of a landline modem. Most often, wireless Internet packages are called — «Internet at home».

So, the most common methods of connecting to the Internet in Mexico are: 1) connection via telephone line, 2) via cable and modem (ADSL), 3) via cable television, 4) fiber optic Internet, 5) wireless «Internet at home».

Basic Internet Providers in Mexico

Fixed Internet providers offer unlimited high-speed Internet, that is, they do not count the gigabytes consumed during the month. Wireless Internet providers also offer unlimited Internet, however, the amount of traffic is limited by the so-called “fair use policy”: after reaching a certain limit determined by the selected package, the Internet speed drops until the end of the billing period. By purchasing additional gigabytes you can increase your Internet speed to the maximum level.

Telmex (Infinitum)

Internet, telephone

The leading fixed telephone and internet company in Mexico offers unlimited internet packages ranging from P389 to P1,150 per month with browsing speeds ranging from 20 Mbps to 200 Mbps. Pre-registration is required for installation. All Telmex packages cover:

• telephone line
• streaming video
• Claro Drive (cloud storage)
• Intel Security antivirus
• Infinitum Móvil — wi-fi in public places

Moreover, Telmex also has a set of plans that include a Netflix subscription. These packages range from P499 to P1,149 per month.

One of the main advantages of concluding contracts with Telmex is the number of mobile Wi-Fi points throughout Mexico. As a Telmex user, you will have access to wireless Internet in more than 9,500 public places across the country, at high speeds and without traffic restrictions.

You can find out more about the operator’s Internet packages on the websiteTelmex.

Izzi

Internet, telephone, TV

Izzi Telecom — a company owned by Grupo Televisa. Present in more than 60 cities in 29 states of Mexico.

Unlimited Internet. Pre-registration is required for installation. Package prices — from 350 pesos per month with a speed of 20 Mbps. Telephone line — from 420 pesos. Maximum speed offered — up to 100 Mbit/s.

Izzi also offers unlimited access to mobile Wi-Fi in authorized public places.

You can find out more about the operator’s Internet packages on the websiteIzzi Telecom.

Totalplay

Internet, telephone, TV

Unlimited Internet. Pre-registration is required for installation. Packages from 439 pesos per month with 20 Mbps speed, with telephone line. Maximum connection speed in expensive packages — 500 Mbit/s.

Totalplay offers the following services:

• telephone line
• cable television
• Netflix
• Wi-Fi repeater (boost signal)

The company has an express connection service: from application submission to connection it takes no more than 24 hours. At the same time, Totalplay emphasizes that it is laying fiber optics along the entire route, so the Internet will always be high-speed, regardless of the number of connected devices.

You can find out more about the operator’s Internet packages on the websiteTotalplay.

Telcel

Wireless Internet, cellular communication

No registration for installation. You need to purchase an individual modem from a service center. Service «Home Internet» Only available within Telcel's guaranteed 4G coverage areas. Packages start at P229 per month with speeds of 5 Mbps or 10 Mbps. Contracts are available for 12, 18, 24 or 30 months. Unlimited traffic, but high speeds are limited by the «fair use policy». This policy covers limits of 50, 75, 100, 150 and 200 GB depending on the contract package. Once the limit is reached, the user will be able to continue browsing, but at a maximum speed of 1 Mbit/s (up to 1.5 Mbit/s).

When paying for the contract for the entire term of its validity, the modem is given free of charge.

You can find out more about the operator’s Internet packages on the websiteTelcel.

Movistar

Wireless Internet, cellular communication

No registration for installation. You need to purchase an individual modem from a service center. Packages start at P249 per month with 5 Mbps speed. Unlimited traffic, but high speeds are limited by a «fair use policy», where after reaching a certain limit the speed is reduced to 2.5 Mbps for the rest of the month.

To increase your Internet speed again over the same period, it is allowed to purchase Movistar tokens:

• 10 GB — 69 pesos
• 20 GB — 129 pesos
• 30 GB — 189 pesos

Movistar does not allow you to move your modem from one location to another without paying. During initial setup, the address where the service will be used is indicated. You can use the Internet at your new address for a fee of 200 pesos.

To provide «Home Internet» Movistar uses the same infrastructure as for its mobile network.

You can find out more about the operator’s Internet packages on the websiteMovistar.

AT&T

Wireless Internet, cellular communication

No registration for installation. You should purchase an individual modem from a service center. The service is available in prepaid and postpaid with prices starting from P70 per week or P200 per month with 5 Mbps speed. Unlimited traffic, but high speeds are limited by the «fair use policy».

Service «Internet at home» or «Wireless Internet» is relatively new, and its main attraction is that it does not require complex installation. For this service, the company uses the same infrastructure with which it offers cellular services.

At the same time, despite the ease of installation, the company controls that the Internet is used only at the address at which it was registered. If you change your address, you will have to pay about 200 pesos to have the modem start working at the new location.

Unlimited Internet AT&T— at speeds of 5 and 10 Mbit/s. Once the limit set in the selected plan is reached, the speed is reduced to 0.5 Mbps for the remainder of the period.

Prepaid package.Unlimited Internet from 70 pesos, limited to 150 GB with a speed of 5 Mbps. Once this limit is reached, the speed is reduced to 0.5 Mbps for the rest of the period. The package allows you to connect 2 devices at the same time, and the price of the modem is 2100 pesos. This amount must be repaid in one go.

Internet with pay as you go.Involves concluding a long-term contract. Unlimited Internet at high browsing speed up to 150 GB. Once this limit is reached, the speed is reduced to 0.5 Mbps for the rest of the period. The package offers 2 browsing speed options: Basic package, 5 Mbps speed at a monthly cost of P200 per month, Full package, 10 Mbps speed at a monthly cost of P350 per month. With these packages, AT&T offers a chance to finance the purchased modem. The modem tariff can be divided into 30 payments of 35 pesos, or if the user wants, he has the option of paying 2,100 pesos for the modem outright.

More information about the operator’s Internet packages can be found on the websiteAT&T.

Blue Telecomm

Wireless Internet, cellular communication

No pre-registration is required for installation. You are allowed to request delivery of the modem by any available method. Packages starting from 225 pesos per month with 5 Mbps speed. Unlimited traffic, but high speed limited by «fair use policy» up to 100 GB, upon reaching which the transfer speed is reduced to 0.5 Mbit/s until the end of the month.

If the user has reached the limit set in the fair use policy and the end of the month is still far away, it is possible to make additional top-ups to increase browsing speed. To do this you need to purchase any of the following packages:

• 5 GB — 25 pesos
• 10 GB — 45 pesos
• 25 GB — 99 pesos
• 50 GB — 149 pesos

More information about the operator’s Internet packages can be found on the websiteBlue Telecomm.

SKY

Internet, TV

SKY offers TV or TV + Internet packages starting at P399 per month. Internet unlimited.

You can find out more about the operator’s Internet packages on the websiteSKY.

Megacable

Internet, telephone, TV

The company has coverage throughout most of Mexico and offers a wide range of plans that include unlimited internet. Packages with phone, TV and Internet (and Netflix) starting at P549 per month with internet speeds ranging from 50 to 1000 Mbps. In addition, the operator offers packages that include cellular communications (virtual operator).

The Double Pack and Triple Pack include an active Netflix membership. Megacable also offers unlimited calls to landlines and mobile numbers in Mexico, the US and Canada.

You can find out more about the operator’s Internet packages on the websiteMegacable.

Dish

Internet, TV

A significant number of TV channels starting at 216 pesos per month or packages with Internet and TV starting at 465 pesos per month. Internet unlimited.

More information about the operator’s Internet packages can be found on the websiteDish.

Bait

Internet

Bait— virtual operator of the American retail chain Walmart. Has coverage limited to large and medium-sized populated areas. Now the operator offers only mobile communications and home Internet, without additional options.

Bait offers two home internet packages. The package for 79 MXN is valid for 7 days, it includes 30 GB traffic at a speed of 5 Mbit/s. The 299 MXN package will work for 30 days and includes 120 GB traffic at Mbps speed. Once the traffic is exhausted, the transfer rate is reduced to 0.5 Mbit/s until the end of the package's validity period.

To use the service, you must purchase a router at Walmart or other retail chain stores. Once activated, the router cannot be moved to another address. If you still need to change the address, you should first check the availability of the service at the new address, and then call the operator to activate the service at the new address.

More information about the operator’s Internet packages can be found on the websiteBait.