Colombia’s Fixed Internet Speeds Increased in First Half of 2024

The Colombian Communications Regulatory Commission (CRC) has released its latest Data Flash report detailing fixed internet service quality across the country. The report evaluates user experiences using data collected through crowdsourcing methodologies and advanced analytical tools, covering the period from January 2018 to June 2024.

The publication aims to address information asymmetries by providing insights into the quality of services delivered by internet service providers (ISPs) across Colombia. Additionally, it benchmarks Colombia’s internet performance against 26 other countries. The report introduces innovative assessment tools, including the Quality of Experience Index (ICE) and the Game Score, which specifically evaluate online gaming performance.

Key Findings

Significant Increase in Internet Speeds

Between the second half of 2023 and the first half of 2024, Colombia experienced a notable improvement in fixed internet speeds:

• Download Speeds: Increased by 55.1%, reaching 147.1 Mbps by June 2024.
• Upload Speeds: Rose by 45.7%, reaching 49.5 Mbps.

Among providers, Movistar led with a download speed of 250.5 Mbps and an upload speed of 221.1 Mbps, followed by ETB, which also reported the lowest national latency at 6.7 milliseconds. Both companies demonstrated strong download-upload symmetry, largely attributable to the deployment of fiber-optic connections directly to end-users.

City Performance

Performance varied significantly across Colombian cities:

• Armenia recorded the fastest download speed at 206.79 Mbps.
• Bogotá achieved the highest upload speed at 93.95 Mbps and the best latency at 10.65 milliseconds.
• Cities such as Bogotá, Barranquilla, Cartagena, and Ibagué showed significant year-over-year improvements, surpassing their June 2023 metrics.

Quality of Experience Index (ICE)

The CRC’s ICE provides a comprehensive evaluation of fixed internet service quality across major Colombian cities. As of June 2024, Bogotá ranked first with an ICE score of 78.84, up from 55.21 in June 2023, reflecting a 23.63-point improvement. Other cities showing notable gains included:

Online Gaming Performance

The Game Score, developed by Ookla, evaluates the quality of online gaming experiences by analyzing metrics such as latency and connection stability. Movistar excelled in this category, leading in six top ten cities and placing second in the remaining towns.

Official Remarks

According to Lina María Duque Del Vecchio, Commissioner and Executive Director of the CRC, “The results presented highlight significant improvements in speed, latency, and symmetry, benefiting users and operators alike. These analyses reflect the CRC’s ongoing efforts to monitor communication services and encourage continuous improvement in service delivery across Colombia.”

The full Data Flash report provides detailed data disaggregated by ISP, department, city, and local districts, including Bogotá’s surrounding municipalities, Medellín’s communes, and the Valle de Aburrá region.

Photo credit: Oak Ridge National Laboratory.