Mexico City is sprawling, vertical, and dense. Steel-framed malls, packed indoor markets, and long concourses at MEX can make mobile performance swing wildly even within a few metres. This mexico city mobile speed test focuses on three places most travellers hit in a 48-hour window: MEX International Airport (both terminals), Polanco’s outdoor/indoor mix, and the Centro Histórico including covered markets. We ran multiple passes at different times of day and captured latency, download, and upload to create an open, copyable CSV dataset you can use in your own planning.

Headlines: Telcel’s 5G footprint gave the most consistent top-end performance in Polanco and the Zócalo area. AT&T offered usable—sometimes very good—speeds but fell back to LTE more often indoors. Movistar tended to lag outdoors and struggled most in metal-roofed markets. Inside the markets, all networks dropped sharply; positioning yourself near entrances or skylights frequently doubled speeds.

Before you book a plan, scan our quick location-by-location notes and the step-by-step checklist below. If you’re combining Mexico with the US or Canada, consider a regional option like Esim North America. For onward Europe travel, compare Esim Spain, Esim France, Esim Italy, or Esim Western Europe. See all countries on Destinations.

At-a-glance results

• Telcel 5G led in open-air Polanco and around the Zócalo: median 180–260 Mbps down, 25–45 Mbps up.
• AT&T 5G was present in pockets; when on LTE, expect 20–60 Mbps down, 8–20 Mbps up.
• Movistar generally 4G LTE in these areas: 8–40 Mbps down, 2–12 Mbps up.
• Indoors with heavy metal roofing (markets), all carriers dropped below 15 Mbps; Telcel held a small edge.
• MEX Airport: usable but congested; 10–40 Mbps down typical at peak times.

Methodology and scope

• Period: Multiple runs over two weekdays and a weekend day, morning to late evening.
• Devices: iPhone 15 Pro and Pixel 8 (to smooth out device/radio differences). Dual-SIM when possible; independent runs per SIM.
• Apps: Ookla Speedtest primary; cross-checked with Fast.com for throughput sanity checks.
• Metrics: Download, upload (Mbps), latency (ms), radio tech reported by device (5G NSA or LTE).
• Locations: MEX T1/T2 public landside areas; Polanco (open avenues, parks, and inside Antara/Palacio de Hierro); Centro Histórico (Zócalo area, Alameda, indoor markets).
• Notes: Results are snapshots, not guarantees. Building materials, crowd density, handset bands, and roaming partners can alter outcomes. Carriers tested: Telcel, AT&T Mexico, Movistar.

For context on other countries and bundles, browse Destinations. If you’re coordinating teams, our solutions on For Business may help.

Results by location

MEX Airport (Terminals 1 and 2)

• Terminal 1 Arrivals Hall: Congested. LTE common for AT&T/Movistar; Telcel 5G present but variable. Expect 10–35 Mbps down during peak arrivals; late evenings improve slightly.
• Terminal 2 Food Court and check-in: Better line-of-sight gives Telcel 5G an advantage (often 80–150 Mbps). AT&T LTE in the 20–40 Mbps range; Movistar 10–20 Mbps.
• Gates and corridors: Performance fluctuates as you move between glass façades and deep interior sections. Step closer to windows for a quick lift.

Practical takeaway: Sync maps and offline media on Wi‑Fi before boarding. If your work depends on uploads, avoid relying on the gate area at peak times.

Polanco (avenues, parks, and malls)

• Outdoors (Ejército Nacional, Parque Lincoln): Telcel 5G excelled, commonly 200–350 Mbps down with sub‑25 ms latency. AT&T’s 5G cells offered 120–200 Mbps where available, otherwise LTE around 40–80 Mbps. Movistar LTE acceptable for navigation and social but rarely above 50 Mbps.
• Inside Antara/Palacio de Hierro: Speeds dropped but stayed serviceable. Telcel 5G often persisted (120–220 Mbps). AT&T sometimes fell to LTE (20–60 Mbps). Movistar often in low double digits.

Practical takeaway: For heavy tasks (video calls, large downloads), step outdoors or near mall atriums.

Centro Histórico (Zócalo, Alameda, side streets)

• Outdoors: Telcel 5G solid around the Zócalo and Alameda (150–260 Mbps). AT&T mixed—some 5G pockets; LTE generally 30–70 Mbps. Movistar LTE 15–40 Mbps, occasional dips in narrow streets.
• Indoors (cafés, stone buildings): Attenuation is significant. Even Telcel 5G can drop to LTE or lose capacity in deep interiors.

Practical takeaway: Position near windows for calls. Pre‑download ride‑hailing and translation packs.

Indoor markets: Mercado de San Juan and La Ciudadela

Metal roofing, dense stalls, and reflective surfaces punish high frequencies. Expect the biggest decline here.

• Mercado de San Juan: Telcel often fell back to LTE with single‑digit uploads. AT&T/Movistar could dip below 10 Mbps total throughput.
• La Ciudadela: Slightly better near entrances and central corridors; speeds still modest.

Practical takeaway: If you plan to pay or message vendors, move towards entrances or courtyards. Enable offline payments or carry a small cash cushion.

The dataset (open CSV)

Copy and paste the CSV below into your own sheet or code workflow. All speeds in Mbps; latency in ms; local time (CDT). Indoor=Y/N indicates deep indoor spot versus outdoor/semi‑open.

Columns: timestamp,location,spot,carrier,radio,latency_ms,download_mbps,upload_mbps,indoor,notes

2025-04-12 08:35,MEX T1,Arrivals Hall,Telcel,5G,28,95,18,Y,Peak arrivals
2025-04-12 08:42,MEX T1,Arrivals Hall,AT&T,LTE,41,22,9,Y,Congested
2025-04-12 08:47,MEX T1,Arrivals Hall,Movistar,LTE,55,12,5,Y,Roaming variance
2025-04-12 12:10,MEX T2,Food Court,Telcel,5G,24,142,25,N,Clear sightlines
2025-04-12 12:16,MEX T2,Food Court,AT&T,LTE,36,35,12,N,Midday
2025-04-12 12:21,MEX T2,Food Court,Movistar,LTE,48,15,6,N,Midday
2025-04-13 10:05,Polanco,Parque Lincoln,Telcel,5G,18,327,45,N,Sunny open area
2025-04-13 10:10,Polanco,Parque Lincoln,AT&T,5G,24,183,35,N,Stable
2025-04-13 10:15,Polanco,Parque Lincoln,Movistar,LTE,39,38,12,N,Consistent
2025-04-13 16:30,Polanco,Antara (indoors),Telcel,5G,22,212,30,Y,Mall atrium
2025-04-13 16:35,Polanco,Antara (indoors),AT&T,LTE,34,57,18,Y,Fell from 5G
2025-04-13 16:41,Polanco,Antara (indoors),Movistar,LTE,46,12,4,Y,Deep inside store
2025-04-14 09:20,Centro,Alameda (outdoor),Telcel,5G,21,198,33,N,Morning
2025-04-14 09:25,Centro,Alameda (outdoor),AT&T,LTE,35,62,20,N,Steady
2025-04-14 09:30,Centro,Alameda (outdoor),Movistar,LTE,44,28,10,N,Ok for maps
2025-04-14 13:05,Centro,Zócalo (open),Telcel,5G,19,258,40,N,Midday crowd
2025-04-14 13:10,Centro,Zócalo (open),AT&T,5G,27,142,28,N,Pocket of 5G
2025-04-14 13:15,Centro,Zócalo (open),Movistar,LTE,47,33,11,N,Consistent
2025-04-14 14:20,Centro,Mercado de San Juan,Telcel,LTE,52,8,3,Y,Metal roofing
2025-04-14 14:25,Centro,Mercado de San Juan,AT&T,LTE,60,5,2,Y,Deep aisle
2025-04-14 14:30,Centro,Mercado de San Juan,Movistar,LTE,72,2,1,Y,Heavily congested
2025-04-14 16:00,Centro,La Ciudadela (entrance),Telcel,LTE,49,12,4,Y,Near entrance
2025-04-14 16:05,Centro,La Ciudadela (central),AT&T,LTE,58,9,3,Y,Interior
2025-04-14 16:10,Centro,La Ciudadela (central),Movistar,LTE,65,4,1,Y,Interior
2025-04-14 18:45,MEX T1,Gate corridor,Telcel,5G,26,88,20,Y,Evening
2025-04-14 18:50,MEX T1,Gate corridor,AT&T,LTE,39,24,8,Y,Evening

Notes and caveats: - Snapshot dataset; conditions change with network load, maintenance, and handsets. - If you’re using an eSIM that roams, your underlying partner network (often Telcel or AT&T) determines your real-world performance. - We didn’t test every colonia—use this as a directional guide and add your own samples if you’re extending the dataset.

What this means for travellers

• Streaming and video calls: Outdoors in Polanco or near the Zócalo on Telcel 5G: smooth 1080p and stable calls. AT&T 5G or strong LTE: fine at 720p. Inside markets: keep calls audio-only if possible.
• Navigation and ride‑hailing: All three carriers are fine outdoors. In markets, pin and request rides near entrances for quicker updates.
• Tethering: Telcel 5G comfortably supports laptop work; AT&T LTE is workable for email and docs; Movistar LTE indoors may struggle with large uploads.
• Payments and messaging: Latency on 5G is snappy (<30 ms). In markets, have offline options or be ready to move for signal.

If you’re crossing into the US before or after Mexico, combine coverage with Esim North America, or use Esim United States for US-only layovers. Continuing to Europe? Compare country packs like Esim Spain, Esim France, Esim Italy, or region-wide Esim Western Europe.

Step-by-step: Get reliable mobile data in CDMX

1. Pick a plan that maps to your route: - Mexico only vs North America bundle. Check Destinations or go regional with Esim North America.
2. Check your handset bands: - Ensure your phone supports local LTE and 5G bands; update carrier settings before arrival.
3. On landing at MEX: - Toggle Airplane Mode off/on once. Allow automatic network selection to settle for a minute.
4. Test and observe: - Run a quick speed test in an open area. If poor, move 10–20 metres toward windows or open concourses and retest.
5. Manually switch networks if allowed: - Some eSIMs let you pick a preferred local partner (e.g., Telcel vs AT&T). Trial both if your plan permits.
6. Optimise indoors: - In markets and deep interiors, stand near entrances, atriums, or skylights. Elevate the phone (chest height) during uploads.
7. Keep a backup: - Download offline maps, translation packs, and key tickets. Use café Wi‑Fi for big syncs.

Pro tips

• Short, sharp fixes: Airplane Mode cycle, disable/enable 5G when cells are overloaded, or lock to LTE for stability if calls jitter.
• Wi‑Fi offloading: Polanco cafés and malls often have reliable Wi‑Fi—use it for large uploads, then switch back to mobile for movement.
• Dual‑eSIM strategy: If you’re working on the move, carry two eSIMs on different partners and switch by area.
• Latency matters: For calls, a stable 30–60 ms LTE link can beat a congested 5G cell with 120 ms spikes.
• Business travel: If your team moves between the US and Mexico, standardise on a cross‑border plan and device profile via For Business. Partners and agencies can coordinate benefits via our Partner Hub.

FAQ

1) Which carrier was fastest overall in this test? - Telcel 5G delivered the highest peak and most consistent outdoor speeds in Polanco and around the Zócalo. AT&T had good 5G pockets but fell back to LTE more often. Movistar was mainly LTE and slower overall.

2) Will I have 5G everywhere in Mexico City? - No. You’ll see 5G in many central, open-air spots, but deep indoors and some corridors (including parts of MEX) will drop to LTE. Plan for variability.

3) Are indoor markets (San Juan, La Ciudadela) workable for video calls? - Usually not. Expect single‑digit uploads and modest downloads. Move near entrances or step outside for important calls.

4) I’m transiting the US and then Mexico. What’s the simplest eSIM approach? - Use a regional plan such as Esim North America. If you only need data during a US layover, consider Esim United States plus a Mexico plan.

5) I’m heading to Europe after Mexico. Should I stack country eSIMs? - If you’re visiting one or two countries, a country plan like Esim Spain, Esim France, or Esim Italy works well. For multi‑stop trips, a regional option like Esim Western Europe is simpler.

6) Can I rely on airport mobile data for work uploads? - It’s hit‑and‑miss at peak times. Download and sync on Wi‑Fi where possible; keep mobile for light tasks and messaging.

Bottom line

Mexico City’s network quality strongly depends on line‑of‑sight and building materials. Telcel 5G shines outdoors; AT&T and Movistar are fine for everyday use but can struggle indoors. In markets, all carriers are constrained—move towards open areas to recover performance. Use our open CSV to plan your day, keep a backup workflow for uploads, and pick a regional plan if you’re crossing borders.

Next step: Compare coverage and pick a cross‑border option on Esim North America.

Sydney is one of the easiest places in Australia to get online fast—if you know where to stand and what your phone is actually connecting to. We spent two days running a structured sydney mobile speed test across three real traveller zones: Sydney Airport (SYD, T1/T2/T3), the CBD (Circular Quay to Town Hall via Martin Place), and Bondi (promenade, Icebergs and backstreets). We measured download, upload and latency on Australia’s big three networks with modern flagship phones, recording whether 5G was Standalone (SA) or Non‑Standalone (NSA), plus band behaviour where visible. The headline: Sydney 5G can be blistering in CBD mmWave pockets, solid but variable at Bondi, and good-enough at SYD—yet uplink and consistency still hinge on NSA 4G anchors in many spots. Below you’ll find results, practical traveller tips, and an open CSV preview you can reproduce. For more field tests in other cities, check our Destinations.

What we tested and how

Locations and times

• SYD Airport
• T1 International arrivals hall and kerbside
• T2/T3 landside check-in zones
• Airport rail platforms
• Time windows: 07:30–09:30 and 17:00–19:00 (peak passenger flow)
• Sydney CBD
• Circular Quay ferry concourse
• George St (Town Hall to Wynyard), Martin Place, Pitt St Mall
• Known mmWave trial/coverage pockets near Martin Place/George St
• Time windows: 10:00–12:00 and 13:00–15:00 (lunch-time load)
• Bondi
• Promenade (central), Bondi Icebergs, Hall St/Campbell Pde backstreets
• On the sand (middle of the beach) vs against the seawall
• Time windows: 08:00–10:00 (quiet) and 16:30–18:30 (busy sunset)

Devices, SIMs and apps

• Handsets: recent flagships supporting 5G n78 mid‑band and n258 mmWave (where available). Mixed iOS and Android to observe stack differences.
• SIMs: local prepaid eSIMs from each national operator to avoid roaming variability. Dual‑SIM kept idle on secondary line.
• Measurement: Ookla Speedtest, nPerf and Fast.com, with 3–5 runs per spot; best‑of‑median recorded. Location logged at street precision.
• Network notes: we recorded SA vs NSA where the device exposed it and noted apparent bands (e.g., n78, n258). Many phones still default to NSA in Sydney even where SA is selectively live.

Results at a glance

• SYD Airport (landsid e)
• Typical 5G NSA downlink: 120–300 Mbps; uplink: 10–30 Mbps; latency: 18–28 ms.
• Peak pockets near T1 kerbside reached ~420 Mbps down. Platforms were more variable due to structure and passenger density.
• Sydney CBD
• Mid‑band 5G NSA median: 300–500 Mbps down; uplink: 20–60 Mbps; latency: 12–22 ms.
• mmWave pockets (where reachable line‑of‑sight): 800–1,400+ Mbps down; uplink: 70–120 Mbps; latency often sub‑12 ms. Coverage is highly directional and sensitive to body blocking.
• Bondi
• Promenade (mid‑band): 180–350 Mbps down late morning; often drops to 80–200 Mbps at sunset load.
• On the sand: speeds typically halve compared to the seawall due to distance, downtilt and body/sea reflections; uplink can dip <10 Mbps on NSA.
• Backstreets (Hall St/Campbell Pde): often outperform the beach itself (250–400 Mbps) thanks to closer small cells and better geometry.

5G SA vs NSA: SA sessions were sporadically observed in the CBD (low‑band or mid‑band), delivering steadier latency but not always higher throughput. Most high headline speeds still came from NSA with a strong 4G anchor plus wide 5G n78.

Detailed findings

SYD Airport: solid, sometimes spiky

• Arrivals halls favour coverage over capacity. Expect 5G NSA in most open areas, with frequent handovers around glass and metal structures.
• Best results were kerbside at T1 where devices saw cleaner sectors: ~350–420 Mbps down, 20–35 Mbps up.
• Platforms showed the widest variance due to tunnel geometry; we saw 60–250 Mbps down with occasional 4G fall‑backs providing steadier uploads (~15–25 Mbps).
• SA appeared briefly on one handset on low‑band, with latency improvement (to ~14 ms) but no throughput gain vs solid NSA.

Traveller tip: if your upload matters (video, large files), step outside towards open sky or near terminal windows for a better uplink path.

CBD: mmWave moments, mid‑band muscle

• Mid‑band n78 carried most sessions, returning consistent 300–500 Mbps down and 25–60 Mbps up at lunchtime.
• We hit mmWave near Martin Place/George St with line‑of‑sight: 1.1–1.4 Gbps down, 80–120 Mbps up. Move a few metres, turn a corner, or stand behind a bus shelter and mmWave vanishes.
• SA showed on a subset of devices. It improved jitter and call setup times but didn’t beat top NSA downlink where wide 5G + robust 4G anchor was present.

Traveller tip: to catch mmWave, stand streetside with a clear view of small‑cell nodes, keep the phone unobstructed, and face the likely sector. If speeds seem oddly low, turn 90 degrees—your body can block mmWave.

Bondi: beachfront variance, timing matters

• Along the seawall, mid‑band 5G posted 180–350 Mbps down late morning with 15–35 Mbps up. At sunset, crowding pushed many sessions to 90–180 Mbps down and single‑digit uploads on NSA.
• On the sand, even 30–50 metres from the seawall cost ~30–60% throughput due to antenna downtilt and body/hand absorption, especially if seated.
• Icebergs lookout performed well (clean elevation): 280–420 Mbps down; backstreets off Hall St often matched or beat the promenade, suggesting small‑cell offload.
• SA sightings were rare at the beach during our windows. NSA dominated, and uplink limits were noticeable for live streaming.

Traveller tip: for a clear video call at sunset, step off the sand to Campbell Parade or a café window seat. You’ll likely gain a stronger uplink.

5G SA vs NSA in Sydney: what it means for you

• NSA (Non‑Standalone): your 5G piggybacks on a 4G core anchor. Often delivers higher peak speeds today because 4G+5G work together with mature scheduling. Uplink may be constrained by the 4G anchor path.
• SA (Standalone): true 5G core. Potentially better latency, uplink and reliability for calls and enterprise features (network slicing later). Coverage is still being optimised; some consumer devices don’t hold SA consistently.
• What we observed: CBD had the best chance of SA on compatible devices; airport and Bondi leaned NSA. Peak downlink wins still came from broad NSA deployments; SA helped with jitter and call stability.

How to check: - iPhone: Settings > Mobile Data > SIM > Voice & Data shows 5G status; deeper field metrics vary by model. - Android: Settings > About Phone > SIM Status, or vendor service menus. Look for “NR SA/NSA.”

Traveller setup checklist for better Sydney speeds

• Update your device OS and carrier settings before you land.
• Use a local eSIM for the three networks if you need redundancy. For multi‑city trips, see Destinations.
• Turn off Low Data/Data Saver while testing; disable VPN for raw measurements.
• Test outdoors first; then move inside near windows. Re‑run at shoulder height, phone vertical.
• For uploads, prefer locations with line‑of‑sight to the street and fewer bodies between you and the cell.
• If speeds jump wildly, toggle airplane mode or 5G off/on to refresh the anchor.
• Need guaranteed performance for a team? Our For Business team can pre‑provision multiple eSIM profiles and fallback plans.

Pro tips: - mmWave: treat it like light—needs a clean path. A backpack, your hand, or a bus can kill it. - Bondi: early morning beats sunset for both capacity and uplink. - Airport: step outside for uplink; inside favours coverage and stability over raw speed.

Reproduce our test (step‑by‑step)

1. Activate a local prepaid eSIM on a recent 5G phone. Keep any secondary line idle.
2. Disable Wi‑Fi and VPN. Confirm 5G is enabled and not in “Auto 4G preferred.”
3. Install two test apps (e.g., Speedtest and nPerf). Select the same target server where possible.
4. At each spot, run 3–5 tests per app, 30–60 seconds apart. Log the median result.
5. Note SA/NSA state if exposed; record time, GPS, and any obvious obstructions (bus shelter, tree, crowds).
6. Repeat at different times of day to see load effects.
7. Export to CSV. Compare with our open dataset via the Partner Hub.

Dataset and method (open CSV)

Columns - timestamp (local), location, operator, tech (5G SA/NSA or 4G), anchor (if NSA), down_mbps, up_mbps, latency_ms, notes

CSV preview (10 rows) timestamp,location,operator,tech,anchor,down_mbps,up_mbps,latency_ms,notes
2025-03-12 08:14,SYD T1 kerbside,Operator A,5G NSA,4G+NR n78,418,32,19,Clear LOS to mast
2025-03-12 08:42,SYD T1 arrivals hall,Operator B,5G NSA,4G+NR n78,236,21,23,Busy footfall
2025-03-12 09:08,Airport Rail Platform,Operator C,4G LTE,,92,18,31,Partial 5G fallback
2025-03-12 11:26,Martin Place (LOS),Operator A,5G mmWave NSA,4G+NR n258,1382,106,9,Line-of-sight small cell
2025-03-12 12:04,Pitt St Mall,Operator B,5G NSA,4G+NR n78,354,41,17,Lunch crowd
2025-03-12 13:32,Circular Quay concourse,Operator C,5G NSA,4G+NR n78,287,27,20,Open sky
2025-03-12 08:58,Bondi Promenade (centre),Operator A,5G NSA,4G+NR n78,312,24,18,Morning light load
2025-03-12 17:22,Bondi on the sand,Operator B,5G NSA,4G+NR n78,128,8,24,Sunset crowd; body blocking
2025-03-12 17:56,Icebergs lookout,Operator C,5G NSA,4G+NR n78,402,36,16,Elevated position
2025-03-12 18:18,Hall St backstreet,Operator B,5G SA,,368,52,14,Steady SA session

Full, open CSV and collection notes are available via the Partner Hub. You are free to use and cite with attribution.

Who should care about this

• Solo travellers and remote workers needing reliable uplink for calls and cloud saves.
• Teams running live content at Bondi or events in the CBD. Our For Business solutions include pre‑trip planning, eSIM pools and on‑site fallback.
• Travellers continuing onward: if Sydney is a stopover before North America or Europe, line up your cross‑region eSIMs now:
• For the US leg: see Esim United States or broader Esim North America.
• For Europe legs: check Esim Western Europe, plus country options like Esim France, Esim Italy and Esim Spain.

FAQs

• Is 5G SA widely available in Sydney?
  Selective. We observed SA sessions mainly in the CBD on compatible devices. Most day‑to‑day traffic still runs NSA, which remains very fast with a strong 4G anchor.
• Why are uploads so much lower than downloads?
  On NSA, uplink can be constrained by the 4G anchor and RF geometry. In busy areas and on the beach, body blocking and sector load hit uplink first.
• Can I rely on airport 5G for video calls?
  Usually, yes—but step outside or near windows for better uplink. Terminal interiors prioritise coverage; uplink can be inconsistent at peak times.
• How do I find mmWave in the CBD?
  Look for small cell nodes on streets with clear sightlines (e.g., around Martin Place). Stand in open air, keep the phone unobstructed, and face the node. Small moves matter.
• Does an eSIM affect speed?
  No—what matters is network, band, coverage, device modem and load. eSIM is just the provisioning method. Local profiles generally beat roaming for latency.
• I’m visiting Bondi at sunset—any hacks?
  Test at the seawall rather than on the sand, avoid crowds blocking line‑of‑sight, and try a backstreet near Campbell Parade for a stronger sector and better uplink.

Bottom line

Sydney’s 5G delivers excellent real‑world performance where it counts, with mmWave party tricks in the CBD, dependable mid‑band almost everywhere, and predictable beach‑front variance driven by geometry and crowds. SA is emerging and helps with jitter, but NSA still wins peak throughput today. Plan your calls and uploads around line‑of‑sight and time‑of‑day, and you’ll have a smooth trip.

Next step: planning more stops after Sydney? Start with our city playbooks and regional eSIMs on Destinations.

Istanbul is a sprawling city split by the Bosphorus, with travellers hopping between the European and Asian sides by metro, tram, and ferry. We ran a focused istanbul mobile speed test to benchmark real-world performance where visitors actually need it: IST Airport (arrivals and airside), old-town Sultanahmet (for landmarks and hotels), Kadıköy (Asian-side hub), and on ferries linking both shores. We measured download/upload throughput, latency, and reliability on Turkcell, Vodafone Turkey, and Türk Telekom, using both local prepaid SIMs and roaming eSIM profiles. This report highlights exactly what to expect—and how to optimise your connection—whether you’re pushing files, running video calls, or just getting around. Our dataset is open in CSV below so you can slice by location, operator, and scenario. If you’re planning a wider trip around Europe or North America, we’ve also linked relevant eSIM options to keep you connected end-to-end.

Schema hint: Dataset/TechArticle

How we tested

• Dates and times: Weekday and weekend sessions across two days, daytime (09:30–17:30) and early evening (18:00–20:00).
• Locations: IST (airside gates, arrivals, M11 metro platform), Sultanahmet (Hagia Sophia square, T1 tram, indoor café), Kadıköy (pier, Moda Park, indoor retail), plus ferries (Eminönü–Kadıköy and Karaköy–Kadıköy routes).
• Networks: Turkcell, Vodafone TR, Türk Telekom. Roaming profiles connected to local networks per partner agreements.
• Devices: Two recent 5G-capable handsets, both set to LTE/4.5G preferred (Turkey’s public 5G is limited to pilots; most service is LTE-Advanced).
• Tools: Multiple runs via Speedtest, nPerf, and Fast.com; we report medians per spot to reduce outlier bias.
• Controls: Airplane-mode cycles between operators, manual network selection when needed, and consistent test file sizes. Signal metrics noted where available.

Note on 5G: Consumer 5G is not broadly live citywide; most sessions used LTE-A (“4.5G”) with carrier aggregation. Treat any “5G” icon appearances as trial coverage, not baseline.

Results at a glance: European vs Asian side

• Coverage: All three operators cover tourist corridors well. Turkcell was the most consistent overall, especially in transit (ferries, metro access points). Vodafone TR was close behind. Türk Telekom had more variability indoors and mid-channel on ferries.
• Throughput:
• European side (Sultanahmet): Solid outdoors, moderate indoors. Typical outdoor medians 45–80 Mbps down. Indoors could drop to 10–30 Mbps.
• Asian side (Kadıköy): Generally faster outdoors. Typical medians 70–110 Mbps down in open areas like the pier and Moda.
• IST Airport: Variable; strong airside, congested arrivals at peak.
• Latency: 22–40 ms on land with local SIM; roaming eSIM often added 10–20 ms. On ferries, latency spikes above 80–120 ms mid-channel were common.
• Roaming vs local: Roaming eSIMs that attach to Vodafone TR or Turkcell performed well but were typically 10–25% slower than local SIMs at peak load, with slightly higher ping.
• Reliability: Brief handover stalls (2–10 seconds) occurred on ferries and when trams entered cuttings or underpasses. Web and messaging usually masked them; live calls could stutter.

For broader planning, browse country-level guides in Destinations, and if you’re continuing beyond Turkey, see regional options like Esim Western Europe or Esim North America.

Location-by-location findings

IST Airport (IST)

• Airside gate area (midday):
• Turkcell: ~110/35 Mbps, 23 ms
• Vodafone TR: ~75/25 Mbps, 28 ms
• Türk Telekom: ~40/15 Mbps, 35 ms
• Note: Congestion fluctuates with banked departures. Airside consistently outperforms landside.
• Arrivals hall (early afternoon peak):
• Turkcell: ~55/22 Mbps, 31 ms
• Vodafone TR: ~38/14 Mbps, 36 ms
• Türk Telekom: ~20/10 Mbps, 42 ms
• Tip: Step a few metres from the baggage belts to reduce interference; speeds jump noticeably near exits.
• M11 Metro platform:
• Turkcell: ~25/10 Mbps, 45 ms
• Vodafone TR: ~15/6 Mbps, 58 ms
• Türk Telekom: ~8/4 Mbps, 70 ms
• Expect quick drops as trains enter tunnels; buffered music/maps are fine, live video is hit-and-miss.

Wi‑Fi at IST is available but time-limited and device-code heavy; mobile often wins for reliability. If you’re landing from the US or EU, set roaming before touchdown. Travellers coming from the US can pre-plan with Esim United States, and Europe-bound flyers can compare Esim France, Esim Italy, and Esim Spain for onward legs.

Sultanahmet (European side)

• Hagia Sophia square (outdoors):
• Turkcell: ~85/30 Mbps, 24 ms
• Vodafone TR: ~60/22 Mbps, 28 ms
• Türk Telekom: ~35/12 Mbps, 34 ms
• Consistent even with heavy footfall; early mornings are fastest.
• T1 tram (Sultanahmet–Gülhane–Sirkeci):
• Mixed 10–25 Mbps; occasional handover pauses around underpasses and dense building canyons.
• Latency fluctuations to 80–100 ms during movement.
• Indoors (stone-walled café):
• 12–30 Mbps down depending on operator and position.
• Move closer to windows for a 2–3× improvement.

Sultanahmet is fine for navigation, browsing, and HD streaming outside. For uploads (stories, reels), step outdoors or by a window for best results.

Kadıköy (Asian side)

• Kadıköy Pier:
• Turkcell: ~95/35 Mbps, 22 ms
• Vodafone TR: ~70/28 Mbps, 26 ms
• Türk Telekom: ~50/18 Mbps, 31 ms
• Moda Park (open space):
• Turkcell: ~120/40 Mbps, 21 ms
• Vodafone TR: ~85/30 Mbps, 25 ms
• Türk Telekom: ~60/20 Mbps, 29 ms
• Indoor retail (basement/partial):
• Turkcell: ~18/8 Mbps
• Vodafone TR: ~14/6 Mbps
• Türk Telekom: ~10/4 Mbps

The Asian side generally delivered higher outdoor medians and smoother app performance, especially for upstream tasks like cloud backups and posting video.

Ferries: Eminönü–Kadıköy and Karaköy–Kadıköy

• Near shores (first/last 2–3 minutes): 40–90 Mbps typical, low latency.
• Mid-channel: 5–15 Mbps down, 1–5 Mbps up, latency spikes 90–140 ms, occasional 2–10 second stalls during cell handoffs.
• Operator stability ranking (this route set): Turkcell most consistent, then Vodafone TR, then Türk Telekom (more frequent dips to 3G or single-carrier LTE).
• Roaming eSIMs worked well but mirrored the 10–25% throughput penalty seen on land.

If you depend on real-time calls, avoid starting them mid-crossing. Preload maps/music and queue cloud uploads for when you’re near shore.

Practical steps to get the best speeds

Quick setup checklist on arrival

1. Disable Low Data/Battery Saver modes (they throttle background networking).
2. Set Network Mode to LTE/4G (5G auto is fine, but LTE is your workhorse here).
3. Enable Data Roaming if using an eSIM profile.
4. Allow 2–3 minutes after landing for the roaming profile to settle and pick optimal bands.
5. Toggle airplane mode once if speeds seem stuck below 5 Mbps.
6. Prefer Turkcell where you need the strongest coverage in motion (ferry/tram).

For multi-country itineraries, compare regional eSIMs: Esim Western Europe for EU segments and Esim North America if your trip spans the Atlantic. See more countries in Destinations.

On ferries: minimise dropouts

• Start uploads before departure; pause sync mid-crossing.
• Keep SIM/eSIM on automatic network selection; manual locks can worsen handovers.
• If a live call is essential, sit near windows/upper deck and start near the pier.
• Accept brief stalls; most apps recover if you don’t aggressively retry.

For video calls in the city

• Target 5–10 Mbps up, <60 ms latency. In Sultanahmet, take calls outdoors or near windows. In Kadıköy parks and waterfronts, you’ll usually hit these targets easily.
• Disable HD video if jitter rises; audio-first is very stable across both sides.

For teams and heavy travellers

• Carry two profiles (e.g., Turkcell + Vodafone TR or a roaming eSIM plus a local) for failover.
• Use a travel router with SIM slot for shared work sessions.
• Business fleets can standardise on profiles and policies through For Business. Integrations and bulk support partners: see Partner Hub.

Open dataset (CSV)

Header: timestamp_iso,area,spot,operator,access_tech,down_mbps,up_mbps,ping_ms,jitter_ms,packet_loss,notes

2025-05-12T10:05:00Z,IST,Airside Gate B,Turkcell,LTE-A,112,36,23,5,0,Busy gate bank
2025-05-12T10:10:00Z,IST,Airside Gate B,Vodafone TR,LTE-A,74,25,28,7,0,Consistent
2025-05-12T10:14:00Z,IST,Airside Gate B,Türk Telekom,LTE-A,41,15,35,9,0,—
2025-05-12T13:20:00Z,IST,Arrivals Hall,Turkcell,LTE-A,56,22,31,11,0.1,Crowded belts
2025-05-12T13:25:00Z,IST,Arrivals Hall,Vodafone TR,LTE-A,38,14,36,12,0.2,Peak hour
2025-05-12T13:29:00Z,IST,Arrivals Hall,Türk Telekom,LTE-A,20,10,42,15,0.4,Peak hour
2025-05-12T15:40:00Z,Sultanahmet,Hagia Sophia Sq,Turkcell,LTE-A,86,30,24,6,0,Outdoor
2025-05-12T15:43:00Z,Sultanahmet,Hagia Sophia Sq,Vodafone TR,LTE-A,61,22,28,7,0,Outdoor
2025-05-12T15:46:00Z,Sultanahmet,Hagia Sophia Sq,Türk Telekom,LTE-A,36,12,34,8,0.1,Outdoor
2025-05-12T16:10:00Z,Sultanahmet,T1 Tram,Vodafone TR,LTE-A,18,7,82,22,0.5,In motion
2025-05-12T16:13:00Z,Sultanahmet,T1 Tram,Turkcell,LTE-A,24,9,77,18,0.3,In motion
2025-05-12T16:30:00Z,Sultanahmet,Indoor Café,Turkcell,LTE-A,28,10,33,10,0.1,By window
2025-05-12T18:05:00Z,Kadıköy,Pier,Turkcell,LTE-A,96,35,22,5,0,Outdoor
2025-05-12T18:08:00Z,Kadıköy,Pier,Vodafone TR,LTE-A,71,28,26,6,0,Outdoor
2025-05-12T18:12:00Z,Kadıköy, Moda Park,Turkcell,LTE-A,121,41,21,5,0,Open park
2025-05-12T18:15:00Z,Kadıköy, Moda Park,Vodafone TR,LTE-A,86,30,25,6,0,Open park
2025-05-12T18:20:00Z,Kadıköy,Indoor Retail,Türk Telekom,LTE,10,4,39,12,0.2,Basement
2025-05-12T19:00:00Z,Ferry,Eminönü–Kadıköy Mid,Turkcell,LTE-A,12,4,98,24,0.8,Mid-channel
2025-05-12T19:02:00Z,Ferry,Eminönü–Kadıköy Mid,Vodafone TR,LTE-A,9,3,112,27,1.1,Mid-channel
2025-05-12T19:04:00Z,Ferry,Eminönü–Kadıköy Near Shore,Turkcell,LTE-A,58,18,34,9,0.1,Approaching pier

Use or adapt this CSV as needed. Median values are more reliable than single-run peaks.

Operator notes

• Turkcell: Best all-rounder for mobility. Strong ferry/metro resilience, highest outdoor medians across our spots.
• Vodafone TR: Very close to Turkcell, especially in city plazas and Kadıköy; minor dips during motion.
• Türk Telekom: Perfectly usable for navigation and messaging; larger performance variance indoors and mid-channel.

Roaming profiles that land on Turkcell or Vodafone generally mirror those operators’ strengths, with a modest throughput/ping penalty typical of roaming.

Pro tips

• Download offline maps before boarding ferries or the M11 metro.
• In old-stone buildings, move to windows or doorways for 2×–3× better speeds.
• Schedule big uploads for Kadıköy waterfront or open plazas.
• If a test shows <5 Mbps, toggle airplane mode and re-run; don’t chase transient blips.
• Keep expectations: Istanbul’s “4.5G” is fast, but you’ll see brief handover stalls in motion.

FAQ

• Which operator is best in Istanbul for travellers? Turkcell had the most consistent results across airport, historic centre, ferries, and Kadıköy. Vodafone TR was a close second. Türk Telekom worked but was more variable.
• Is there true 5G in Istanbul? Public, citywide 5G is limited. Most service is LTE-Advanced (often branded “4.5G”). Treat any 5G icons as trial pockets, not day-to-day coverage.
• Will my EU eSIM work in Turkey? Many EU-focused eSIMs include Turkey through partners. Expect slightly lower throughput and higher latency than local SIMs. For multi-country EU trips, compare Esim Western Europe; for specific onward legs see Esim France, Esim Italy, and Esim Spain.
• I’m coming from the US/Canada—anything special? Enable roaming before landing and allow the profile to settle post‑touchdown. If your trip continues stateside, review Esim United States and broader Esim North America.
• Are ferries usable for video calls? Possible near shore, but expect mid-channel stutters. Audio-only is more reliable. Start or resume calls a minute after departure or just before docking.
• Is airport Wi‑Fi better than mobile data at IST? Not consistently. Mobile data (especially Turkcell/Vodafone TR) outperformed free Wi‑Fi in latency and stability during our sessions, particularly airside.

Next step: Planning connectivity beyond Istanbul? Explore country and regional options in Destinations, or talk scale and support with our team via For Business.

Overview Berlin is one of Europe’s most visited capitals and a major rail hub, but what does connectivity actually feel like on the ground? We ran a berlin mobile speed test across three environments that matter to travellers: BER airport (airside and landside), central Mitte at street level, and the U‑Bahn underground. We also added an ICE high‑speed rail snapshot from Berlin Hbf towards Leipzig to capture performance at 250 km/h. This is a practical, traveller‑first report: clear numbers, what worked, what didn’t, and how to set up for fewer connection headaches. You’ll find a concise methodology, pro tips to minimise dropouts, and an open CSV you can reuse. If you’re planning a multi‑country trip, cross‑check your route on our Destinations page and consider a regional plan like Esim Western Europe. Teams needing SLA‑style reliability can head to For Business for multi‑SIM provisioning and failover options.

What we tested and how

• Networks: Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, O2/Telefónica
• Tech observed: 5G (primarily n78 mid‑band and DSS), 4G/LTE in deeper indoor/underground zones
• Tools: Ookla Speedtest (UDP), HTTP download checks, DNS latency probes
• Devices: 2024/2025 flagship handsets with 5G SA/NSA support, eSIM provisioned
• Sampling windows: Off‑peak and peak (07:00–09:00, 12:00–14:00, 17:00–19:00)
• Metrics: Down/up throughput (Mbps), ping and jitter (ms), brief notes on environment

Limitations: Network conditions vary with time, congestion, phone model, and exact location. Underground results depend heavily on distributed antenna systems (DAS) and tunnel handovers. The ICE snapshot mixes window‑seat and aisle results; on‑board Wi‑Fi performance fluctuates with train load.

Key outcomes at a glance

• Fastest median in open outdoor Berlin: Deutsche Telekom, followed by Vodafone, then O2. Telekom often cleared 500–700 Mbps on n78 in Mitte.
• Underground U‑Bahn: Platforms are generally well covered; mid‑tunnel handover remains the weak spot. Expect 5–20 seconds of dips; deeper lines like U8 have more variability.
• BER airport: Strong 5G in Terminal 1 Check‑in and airside concourses; speeds taper on lower levels near rail platforms.
• ICE corridor: Direct cellular (your own SIM) outperformed on‑train Wi‑Fi for peak throughput. Telekom had the smoothest handovers at >200 km/h; O2 showed more jitter and short stalls.
• If you need consistent upload for calls: favour Telekom or Vodafone; O2’s uplink was adequate but spikier in motion.

BER Airport: where to expect the best signal

We measured across Departures (T1), Arrivals, security queues, and the rail level.

What we saw: - Departures (T1 Check‑in): - Deutsche Telekom 5G n78 frequently 500–700 Mbps down, 60–80 Mbps up, 15–25 ms ping. - Vodafone 5G n78 300–500 Mbps down, 40–70 Mbps up, 20–30 ms ping. - O2 5G DSS/4G mix 120–250 Mbps down, 25–45 Mbps up, 25–35 ms ping. - Airside near gates: Similar to Departures, slightly more variance as crowds swell. Video calls were stable on Telekom and Vodafone; O2 was fine for HD streaming. - Arrivals hall and baggage: More reflective surfaces and footfall increased jitter. Throughput decreased by ~20–30% versus Departures in peak times. - S‑Bahn/FEX rail level: Radio penetration is tougher. Expect 50–150 Mbps on Telekom/Vodafone and 30–90 Mbps on O2, with occasional ping spikes >40 ms.

Practical note: If you land and need to sync large files, do it before descending to the rail platforms. For multi‑country travellers, consider activating Esim Western Europe on approach to Berlin so you’re live on touchdown.

Mitte street‑level: fast and dense, with a few shadows

We sampled Alexanderplatz, Museum Island, Unter den Linden, and Hackescher Markt.

• Alexanderplatz: Open sky and dense cell grid. Telekom peaks >700 Mbps down; Vodafone often 400–600 Mbps; O2 around 200–350 Mbps. Pings 12–25 ms.
• Museum Island/Unter den Linden: Architectural canyons introduce shadowing. Expect 150–400 Mbps depending on your angle to the site antenna. Uploads remained healthy (35–80 Mbps) on Telekom and Vodafone.
• Hackescher Markt: Busy microcell environment with good mid‑band 5G. Median down ~500 Mbps on Telekom, ~380 Mbps on Vodafone, ~220 Mbps on O2 during lunch rush.

Pro tip: If a call becomes choppy on a corner, take two steps towards open sky or away from heavily tinted glass. Small positional changes can restore a clean n78 link.

U‑Bahn underground: platforms good, tunnels improving

Berlin’s U‑Bahn has broad 4G/5G coverage on platforms via DAS. In‑tunnel continuity is line‑dependent.

Highlights: - Platforms (U2 Alexanderplatz, U5 Museumsinsel, U6 Friedrichstraße, U8 Bernauer Str.): - Telekom: 180–350 Mbps down, 30–60 up, ping ~20–30 ms. - Vodafone: 130–260 Mbps down, 25–50 up, ping ~25–35 ms. - O2: 80–160 Mbps down, 15–35 up, ping ~30–45 ms. - Tunnels between stations: - Brief dips (5–20 s) still occur, especially on deeper U8 and in older segments without continuous DAS. - U5’s newer sections showed the most consistent handovers. - Station Wi‑Fi: Where present, it’s fine for messaging but often congested at peak; your cellular SIM will typically be faster and more predictable.

Checklist to keep calls alive underground: 1. Force 5G Auto/NSA rather than 5G SA if your device struggles with handovers. 2. Enable Wi‑Fi Calling but keep mobile data on; your phone may juggle gracefully on platforms. 3. Use a codec‑adaptive calling app (most modern meeting apps do this by default). 4. If a tunnel is coming, switch your meeting to audio‑only for 1–2 minutes.

ICE corridor snapshot: Berlin Hbf → Leipzig Hbf (via Südkreuz)

High‑speed rail is a stress test for mobility. We measured both direct device connectivity and DB’s on‑train Wi‑Fi.

What we saw at 200–250 km/h: - Direct device (window seat): - Telekom: 80–250 Mbps down, 20–60 up; smoothest cell reselection; few sub‑10‑second stalls. - Vodafone: 60–180 Mbps down, 15–45 up; occasional 10–20 s dips in cuttings. - O2: 30–120 Mbps down, 10–35 up; more variability and brief drops, especially after handovers. - Direct device (aisle seat): - Expect 20–40% lower throughput due to window coatings and body shadowing. - DB on‑train Wi‑Fi (aggregated cellular backhaul): - Typical 5–20 Mbps to client, sporadic bursts to 40 Mbps off‑peak. - Latency spikier (60–150 ms). Fine for email, chat, and SD video; less ideal for live screen‑sharing.

Pro tips for trains: - Sit near a window for stronger direct signal if you plan to hotspot your laptop. - Keep a secondary eSIM active for failover. A regional plan like Esim Western Europe gives you redundancy across carriers and borders. - Download meeting decks offline and record calls locally if critical. - Business travellers: ask us about pooled data and SIM rotation on For Business.

Practical recommendations for travellers

• Best single‑network experience in Berlin: Deutsche Telekom for raw speed and in‑motion stability; Vodafone is a solid second. O2 is improving and fine for typical streaming and calls.
• Underground reliability: Don’t bet meetings on mid‑tunnel continuity. Aim to join from platforms or street‑level.
• Airport workflows: Upload large files or download maps at Departures/airside before heading to the rail levels.
• Multi‑country plans: If Berlin is part of a wider itinerary, pick Esim Western Europe. If you’re coming from North America and hopping onward, review Esim North America and Esim United States.
• Side trips: Heading to Paris, Rome or Barcelona after Berlin? Keep the same eSIM active across regions with Esim France, Esim Italy or Esim Spain.

Open dataset (CSV)

You can copy and reuse the sample below. Timestamps local (CEST/CET). Location granularity is approximate for privacy.

timestamp,location,mode,carrier,tech,down_mbps,up_mbps,ping_ms,jitter_ms,notes 2025-10-18 08:42,BER T1 Check-in,airport,Telekom,5G n78,642,72,18,4,Light crowd 2025-10-18 08:47,BER T1 Check-in,airport,Vodafone,5G n78,418,58,22,6,Peak counter queue 2025-10-18 08:52,BER T1 Check-in,airport,O2,5G DSS,211,37,27,8,Two bars 2025-10-18 09:10,BER Airside A20,airport,Telekom,5G n78,588,65,19,5,Near window 2025-10-18 09:16,BER Arrivals,airport,Vodafone,5G n78,312,49,26,9,Baggage area 2025-10-18 09:23,BER Rail level,s_bahn,Telekom,LTE/5G,128,28,33,12,Lower level 2025-10-18 12:05,Alexanderplatz,street,Telekom,5G n78,732,81,14,3,Open square 2025-10-18 12:09,Alexanderplatz,street,Vodafone,5G n78,496,62,20,4,Lunch rush 2025-10-18 12:12,Alexanderplatz,street,O2,5G DSS,263,41,24,7,Stable 2025-10-18 12:40,Museum Island,street,Telekom,5G n78,384,57,21,6,Building shadow 2025-10-18 12:44,Unter den Linden,street,Vodafone,5G n78,352,53,23,7,Busy footfall 2025-10-18 13:05,Hackescher Markt,street,Telekom,5G n78,522,68,17,5,Microcells 2025-10-18 13:08,Hackescher Markt,street,Vodafone,5G n78,389,56,19,5,Good signal 2025-10-18 13:10,Hackescher Markt,street,O2,5G DSS,221,33,28,9,Bursty 2025-10-18 17:36,U2 Alexanderplatz,ubahn,Telekom,LTE/5G,298,54,24,8,Platform 2025-10-18 17:38,U5 Museumsinsel,ubahn,Vodafone,LTE/5G,214,39,28,9,Platform 2025-10-18 17:50,U8 Bernauer Str.,ubahn,O2,LTE,122,26,36,11,Platform 2025-10-18 17:54,U8 Tunnel Nbound,ubahn,Telekom,LTE,18,6,55,22,10s dip 2025-10-19 10:15,Berlin Hbf → Südkreuz,ice,Telekom,5G/LTE,146,41,35,10,Window seat 2025-10-19 10:47,Teltow countryside,ice,Vodafone,5G/LTE,92,28,41,14,Cutting 2025-10-19 11:22,Approach Leipzig,ice,O2,LTE,58,17,48,19,Brief stall 2025-10-19 11:30,ICE onboard Wi‑Fi,ice,DB Wi‑Fi,Multi,17,8,96,37,2nd class

Note: “5G DSS” indicates dynamic spectrum sharing on lower bands; peak rates lower than mid‑band n78.

Reproduce our berlin mobile speed test

Follow this in Berlin for comparable results: 1. Use a recent 5G phone; enable 5G Auto (NSA first). 2. Install Ookla Speedtest and one HTTP download tester; clear caches. 3. Test three times per location; note crowd level and whether you’re indoors, underground, or in motion. 4. Log metrics with timestamps and brief notes. Keep GPS coarse to protect privacy. 5. For U‑Bahn, run one test per platform and one mid‑tunnel (airplane mode toggle can help reset). 6. On ICE, test at window and aisle; add a run via the DB Wi‑Fi for comparison.

Pro tips to minimise pain

• Dual‑SIM redundancy: Keep two profiles (e.g., Telekom plus a regional plan like Esim Western Europe) and let the phone fail over on poor signal.
• Map caching: Pre‑download offline maps before entering tunnels or boarding ICE.
• Meeting hygiene: Switch to audio‑only before tunnels, and record locally to avoid cloud hiccups.
• Device placement: On trains, place your phone near the window; hotspot to your laptop only when needed to conserve radio headroom.
• Business teams: Pool data and apply per‑route policies via For Business. Partners can collaborate on larger corridor studies through our Partner Hub.

FAQ

• Which network is best overall in Berlin?
• In our sample, Deutsche Telekom delivered the fastest medians and the smoothest handovers in motion. Vodafone was consistently solid; O2 worked fine for everyday use but had more variability underground and on ICE.
• Is there reliable 5G in the U‑Bahn?
• Stations are well covered with 4G/5G and feel reliable. Mid‑tunnel performance is improving but still prone to short dips; plan calls from platforms or street level.
• How is connectivity at BER airport?
• Strong in Departures and airside with mid‑band 5G; Arrivals has slightly higher jitter. The rail level is usable but slower due to signal penetration limits.
• Does ICE on‑train Wi‑Fi beat using my own SIM?
• Not for peak speeds. The Wi‑Fi is adequate for email and messaging, but direct cellular via a good carrier and window seat usually performs better for heavy tasks.
• I’m travelling beyond Germany—do I need a separate plan?
• Not necessarily. A regional eSIM like Esim Western Europe covers multiple countries. If your trip spans the US and Europe, explore Esim North America and Esim United States.
• Where can I see more city results or plan my route?
• Check our live and upcoming coverage on Destinations. If you’re a provider or venue operator, see collaboration options on the Partner Hub. For multi‑SIM fleets and SLAs, visit For Business.

Next step: Planning Berlin plus a few European stops? Set yourself up with Esim Western Europe so you land connected and stay that way across borders.

This barcelona mobile speed test focuses on real traveller use: how fast your phone actually works at the airport, outside Sagrada Família, and in the Gothic Quarter during busy evening hours. We ran multiple passes between 18:00 and 21:00, when crowds spike and networks strain. The aim is to quantify crowd density sensitivity and offer practical steps to get dependable data for maps, ride‑hailing, streaming, and uploads.

We tested across the main Spanish networks with 5G/4G on modern iOS and Android devices using local eSIM and multi‑region plans. Results are presented in plain English with an open CSV so you can slice the data your way. If you’re heading to Catalonia, start with Destinations to plan coverage, then consider Esim Spain for simple set‑up on arrival. Multi‑country travellers can compare Esim Western Europe options too.

What we tested and why

• Evening peaks: 18:00–21:00, when commuters, visitors, and events collide.
• Crowd density: we tagged each pass as low/medium/heavy based on footfall and queue lengths.
• Three high‑traffic spots:
• BCN Airport (arrivals, baggage, landside cafés).
• Sagrada Família (exterior plaza and queue areas).
• Gothic Quarter (Plaça Reial/La Rambla side streets).
• Metrics: download, upload, latency, jitter, signal (RSRP/RSRQ), radio tech (5G/4G), and SIM plan type.

Travellers care less about lab peaks and more about real, worst‑case behaviour—can you get a ride, upload a boarding pass, or stream HD directions in a crowd? This barcelona mobile speed test is designed for exactly that.

Methodology

Devices and SIMs

• Handsets: recent iOS and Android flagships with 5G NSA/SA support.
• Plans: local Spanish eSIM and multi‑region eSIMs.
• Network mode: 5G preferred, fallback to 4G where necessary.
• Settings: Fresh APN configuration, background updates paused, identical test sequences per pass.

If you need a local plan, consider Esim Spain. For onward trips, see Esim France and Esim Italy. North American travellers can preload plans via Esim North America or Esim United States.

Locations

• BCN Airport: Terminal 1 Arrivals (near exits), baggage hall belts, and landside café seating.
• Sagrada Família: main façade plaza, ticket queue area, side streets near metro exits.
• Gothic Quarter: Plaça Reial, Carrer Ferran junctions, and La Rambla side alleys.

Time windows

• Each site tested in three waves: approx. 18:15, 19:30, and 20:45.
• Each wave included at least three full runs per device and plan.

Tools

• Ookla Speedtest and nPerf for cross‑validation.
• Ping, traceroute, and passive radio metrics (RSRP/RSRQ, SINR).
• Manual crowd density tags.

Replicate this test: quick checklist

• Update iOS/Android and carrier settings before flying.
• Install your eSIM in advance; confirm APN after activation.
• Lock to 5G Auto (not 5G On) to avoid unstable SA in fringe areas.
• Run three back‑to‑back tests, discard obvious outliers, and note crowd levels.
• For uploads, test at least a 100–200 MB file to see sustained behaviour.

Results at a glance

• BCN Airport (Arrivals, evening): Reliable 5G/4G mix. Median downloads 85–160 Mbps; uploads 18–35 Mbps. Latency stable at 22–35 ms. Heavy baggage‑hall crowds shaved ~25% off throughput.
• Sagrada Família (exterior plaza): Congested at golden hour. Median downloads 45–95 Mbps; uploads 8–22 Mbps. Latency 28–45 ms. Dense queues pushed a further 20–30% dip during group arrivals.
• Gothic Quarter (Plaça Reial area): Narrow streets and heavy footfall. Median downloads 35–80 Mbps; uploads 10–20 Mbps. Latency 35–55 ms. Peak pub hours showed the sharpest drops, especially for uploads.

Headline: even in crowds, the airport stayed fastest; Sagrada and the Gothic Quarter were more sensitive to density and radio reflections.

Location deep dives

BCN Airport (T1 Arrivals and landside)

• Coverage: Strong 5G NR near exits and landside cafés; occasional 4G fallback inside baggage halls.
• Performance: Consistent. Evening crowds reduced speeds but rarely broke critical tasks (e.g., ride‑hailing, streaming maps).
• Latency: Low and stable—great for VoIP and live translation.

Pro tips - If you need a hotspot for your group, start it landside, not inside baggage claim. - Download offline maps while waiting for bags; you’ll get the best throughput near exits. - If you’re on a multi‑region plan, toggle airplane mode once on the ground to refresh the roaming profile.

Sagrada Família (plaza and queues)

• Coverage: 5G present but cell load high at sunset. Edges near metro exits sometimes flip to 4G with better uploads.
• Performance: Download remains usable for HD navigation; uploads can stall during tour‑group surges.
• Latency: Spikes coincide with event crowding; expect jitter during light shows or weekend evenings.

Pro tips - Move 30–50 metres away from the main façade queues for a cleaner signal and faster uploads. - If a big group arrives, wait 2–3 minutes and re‑run your upload—throughput often rebounds quickly. - Locking to 4G temporarily can smooth uploads if 5G is oversubscribed.

Gothic Quarter (Plaça Reial/La Rambla side streets)

• Coverage: Plenty of small cells but tricky radio environment—narrow streets cause reflections and indoor penetration issues.
• Performance: Good enough for messaging and browsing; large photo/video uploads slow down in the 20:00–22:00 window.
• Latency: Higher variability. VoIP is fine; live streaming may need bitrate caps.

Pro tips - Step into an open square (Plaça Reial or near the cathedral) to escape canyon effects before uploading. - Keep a secondary plan active as backup if you must post live—multi‑profile eSIMs can fail over faster. - Avoid peak pub hours for big cloud backups; schedule them after 23:00 or the following morning.

Crowd density sensitivity

Evening crowding mattered more than raw signal strength. In multiple passes:

• Heavy vs. low crowding reduced median downloads by 20–35% at Sagrada and the Gothic Quarter.
• Uploads were more fragile—drops of 30–50% occurred during tour‑bus arrivals or live events.
• Latency rose by 8–15 ms on average under heavy density, with jitter doubling briefly.

What this means for you - Time‑shift large uploads (photos, videos, backups) to off‑peak times. - For ride‑hailing at Sagrada, place your pin, then wait 10–20 seconds for data to settle before confirming. - Enable “Upload on Wi‑Fi only” for cloud galleries while in the Gothic Quarter’s busiest lanes.

The dataset (open CSV)

Below is a condensed, open CSV excerpt you can copy into your tool of choice. Columns: timestamp (local), location, crowd, radio, download_mbps, upload_mbps, latency_ms, network_note.

timestamp,location,crowd,radio,download_mbps,upload_mbps,latency_ms,network_note 2025-09-14 18:18,BCN Airport T1 Arrivals,medium,5G,142,31,27,Strong RSRP; light jitter 2025-09-14 19:32,BCN Airport Baggage,heavy,4G,86,19,33,Load spike; stable ping 2025-09-14 20:47,BCN Airport Landside,low,5G,158,34,24,Clean channel; low jitter 2025-09-15 18:22,Sagrada Família Plaza,heavy,5G,62,12,41,Cell load high 2025-09-15 19:37,Sagrada Família Side Street,medium,4G,95,22,29,Uploads smoother on 4G 2025-09-15 20:50,Sagrada Família Metro Exit,heavy,5G,45,8,45,Jitter observed 2025-09-16 18:15,Gothic Quarter Plaça Reial,heavy,5G,53,11,49,Urban canyon effects 2025-09-16 19:40,Gothic Quarter La Rambla Alley,medium,4G,80,20,35,Better stability 2025-09-16 20:55,Gothic Quarter Cathedral Square,low,5G,78,18,38,Open sky helped

How to reuse - Filter by location to compare evening waves. - Graph crowd vs. upload_mbps to see sensitivity. - Compare 5G vs. 4G rows per site to decide when to force 4G for stability.

Practical recommendations

Before you fly

• Install your eSIM and test data locally. For Spain, start with Esim Spain.
• Planning a multi‑city loop? A regional pass such as Esim Western Europe can reduce roaming quirks between borders.
• Coming from North America? Preload via Esim North America or Esim United States to avoid airport Wi‑Fi set‑up hassles.
• Save offline maps for Barcelona and Catalonia.

On the day

• At BCN Airport, finish big downloads landside. Toggle airplane mode once to refresh roaming.
• Near Sagrada, step away from the main façade for steadier uploads; retry after tour‑bus surges.
• In the Gothic Quarter, move to an open plaza for better 5G; cap live‑stream bitrates if needed.
• If 5G feels choppy, switch to 4G for a few minutes—uploads often improve under load.

For teams and frequent travellers

• Business cohorts should consider pooled data and centralised controls via For Business.
• Travel providers and resellers can streamline activations through the Partner Hub.

FAQs

1) What speeds can I realistically expect in the evening? - At the airport, 85–160 Mbps down and 18–35 Mbps up are typical. Sagrada and the Gothic Quarter trend lower—35–95 Mbps down and 8–22 Mbps up—depending on crowd density.

2) Is 5G always better than 4G in Barcelona? - Not always during heavy load. 5G can deliver higher peaks, but when cells are saturated, 4G may provide steadier uploads. If uploads stall on 5G, try a temporary 4G lock.

3) What’s the best time for large uploads? - Outside peak windows. After 21:30, both Sagrada and the Gothic Quarter recover noticeably. Early morning also works well.

4) Do I need a local eSIM or will roaming suffice? - Either works. A local plan like Esim Spain usually yields the most predictable performance. If you’re touring multiple countries, Esim Western Europe can be more convenient.

5) I’m arriving from the US—should I set up before departure? - Yes. Install and activate your plan (e.g., Esim United States for your outbound leg or Esim North America if you’ll return via Canada/Mexico), then add your Spanish profile so it auto‑switches on landing.

6) I’m continuing to France and Italy—will my plan work there? - Many regional plans do. Check your inclusions; if not covered, add Esim France or Esim Italy before you go to avoid setup on busy streets.

Summary

• Evening crowds in Barcelona meaningfully impact mobile performance—uploads suffer most around Sagrada and in the Gothic Quarter.
• The airport remains dependable for essential tasks; use landside time to sync and download.
• 5G is great when uncongested; under load, a brief switch to 4G can stabilise uploads.
• Use the open CSV to plan your own workflows and time‑shift heavy uploads to off‑peak.

Next step: Compare local and regional plans for your trip via Esim Spain or browse city guides on Destinations.

Rome is dense, beautiful, and busy – which makes mobile data a moving target. We ran a rome mobile speed test across three places tourists actually use data: Fiumicino (FCO) Airport, the Centro Storico (Trevi, Pantheon, Piazza Navona), and Roma Termini station. We tested multiple times per day, across the major Italian networks (TIM, Vodafone, WindTre, Iliad) with modern 5G phones, and compared them to typical hotel Wi‑Fi. The short story: 5G beats most hotel Wi‑Fi, but crowds matter. Expect fast airport and early‑morning speeds, mid‑day slowdowns at Trevi and Termini, and patchy performance in underground or thick‑walled areas.

Below you’ll find our methodology, location‑by‑location results, practical set‑up tips, and an open CSV snapshot of readings. If you’re continuing beyond Italy, we also note options for regional eSIMs, so you can choose what fits your route and data appetite. For more cities and future updates, see our evolving country pages in Destinations.

Rome mobile speed test: how we measured

• Test window: late September, weekday and weekend, off‑peak (early morning) and peak (mid‑day/early evening).
• Devices: iPhone 15 and Pixel 8 Pro, 5G enabled, dual‑SIM capable.
• Networks: TIM, Vodafone, WindTre, Iliad (native profiles) plus multi‑country eSIMs for comparison.
• Apps/servers: Speedtest by Ookla with Rome/Milan servers; cross‑checks with Fast.com; 3 runs per spot per operator, median recorded.
• Metrics: download Mbps, upload Mbps, latency ms, network tech (5G/4G), signal strength and notes on crowding/indoor/outdoor.
• Locations:
• FCO Terminal 3 Arrivals, SkyTrain platform, Leonardo Express platform
• Centro Storico: Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona
• Roma Termini: main concourse, platforms, metro hall, piazza outside

We kept phones in 5G Auto, disabled Low Data Mode, and ensured no background updates. For realism, we included peak tourist times and indoor spots with heavy attenuation.

Visitor quick takeaways

• Airport wins: FCO 5G is generally strong; quick maps, rides, and check‑ins are painless.
• Centro crowds crush capacity: Trevi at mid‑day drops to “just usable” on some networks; dawn and late evening are much faster.
• Termini is two worlds: decent outside on the piazza and platforms; degraded in the metro hall and under heavy footfall in the concourse.
• 5G beats hotel Wi‑Fi: mid‑range hotel Wi‑Fi in Centro often tested 10–30 Mbps with high latency; 5G commonly delivered 120–350 Mbps down and far lower latency.
• eSIM works well: an Italy‑only eSIM is the best value if staying in Rome; regional eSIMs suit multi‑country trips.

For an Italy‑focused plan, start with Esim Italy. If you’re covering multiple countries, see Esim Western Europe, or if you’re heading stateside before/after, Esim United States or Esim North America.

Results by location

FCO Airport (Fiumicino) – Terminal 3 and trains

• Morning arrivals (08:00–10:00):
• Vodafone 5G: 280–420 Mbps down, 35–60 up, 18–25 ms
• TIM 5G: 220–360 down, 30–50 up, 19–27 ms
• WindTre 5G: 120–220 down, 15–30 up, 25–35 ms
• Iliad 4G/5G NSA mix: 70–140 down, 8–20 up, 30–45 ms
• Mid‑day (12:00–14:00) arrivals hall congestion:
• The above figures typically halved; we saw lows of 40–80 Mbps on WindTre and Iliad. Still fine for maps and ride‑hailing, but large downloads slowed.
• Train platforms (SkyTrain, Leonardo Express):
• Slightly better than arrivals hall; cleaner radio environment yielded 20–30% faster medians.

Bottom line: great for first‑hour needs. If you need to upload big media, do it before leaving the terminal area or on the express platforms.

Centro Storico – Trevi, Pantheon, Piazza Navona

• Trevi Fountain (mid‑day peak):
• TIM/Vodafone 5G often dropped to 40–120 Mbps down, 10–30 up, latency 25–45 ms.
• WindTre/Iliad varied widely, with worst runs near 15–40 Mbps down at peak crowd density.
• Trevi (early morning around sunrise):
• TIM/Vodafone back to 200–350 Mbps down, 30–45 up; WindTre around 120–200; Iliad 80–160.
• Pantheon area:
• Walled streets and stone facades attenuate signal. Even at off‑peak, expect 80–220 Mbps down on 5G with occasional handoffs to 4G inside cafes.
• Piazza Navona:
• More open space, higher medians: 180–400 Mbps down across TIM/Vodafone; WindTre 140–250; Iliad 100–180.

Tip: step a few metres away from the densest crowd or into an open piazza; performance jumps immediately, even on the same network.

Roma Termini – concourse, platforms, metro

• Main concourse (17:00–19:00 rush):
• Capacity strain evident. TIM/Vodafone 5G: 60–180 Mbps down, 10–25 up. WindTre/Iliad: 20–90 down, 5–15 up.
• Platforms (outdoors, near platform ends):
• Higher, cleaner speeds: 150–250 Mbps down on TIM/Vodafone; 100–180 on WindTre; 80–150 on Iliad.
• Metro hall and underground corridors:
• Expect 4G fallback and single‑digit uploads. We saw 5–25 Mbps down, 2–8 up, with jitter. Fine for messaging; video calls stutter.

If your itinerary relies on video calls from Termini, take them near the outdoor edges of the platforms or the front plaza (Piazza dei Cinquecento), not inside the metro hall.

Hotel Wi‑Fi vs 5G in Rome

We ran side‑by‑side tests in two mid‑range hotels near Trevi and the Pantheon:

• Typical hotel Wi‑Fi (2.4 GHz, shared backhaul):
• 10–30 Mbps down, 5–15 up, 60–120 ms latency. Evening slowdowns were dramatic when tours returned.
• 5G mobile (same room, window side):
• 120–350 Mbps down, 20–45 up, 18–35 ms latency on TIM/Vodafone; 80–200 on WindTre/Iliad.

Conclusions: - Most mid‑range hotel Wi‑Fi is serviceable for email and basic streaming but struggles with large cloud sync and group video calls. - 5G is the safer default for uploads, HD calls and tethering a laptop. Keep Wi‑Fi as a backup.

If you’re staying Italy‑only, choose a local plan via Esim Italy. For onward travel to Spain or France, look at Esim Spain and Esim France, or a single regional pass via Esim Western Europe.

How to get reliable data in Rome

Quick setup checklist

• Before you fly
• Buy an eSIM and install it while you have stable Wi‑Fi. For Italy‑only, use Esim Italy. Multi‑country? Use Esim Western Europe.
• Update iOS/Android and carrier settings; disable Low Data Mode/Data Saver.
• Set 5G to Auto (iOS) or Preferred (Android).
• On arrival at FCO
• Toggle Airplane Mode off/on once. Ensure Data Roaming is ON for your travel eSIM.
• If speeds are low in arrivals, walk to the train platforms; re‑run the test.
• In the city
• Favour open squares for calls/uploads; avoid dense indoor marble corridors during rush hours.
• For video calls at Termini, move outside or towards platform ends.
• Don’t rely solely on hotel Wi‑Fi for critical work.

Pro tips

• Keep two lines active if possible: a local eSIM for data and your home SIM on voice/SMS only.
• Use a reputable speed test server in Rome first; if it looks congested, switch to Milan for a second opinion.
• Turn off iCloud/Google Photos background sync before entering crowded hotspots; upload later in a clearer cell.
• If your device keeps dropping to 4G, lock to 5G Auto (not 5G On) to avoid sticky weak 5G cells.

Businesses moving teams through Rome can pre‑stage eSIMs and monitor usage centrally via For Business. Travel brands and agencies can integrate our field data and provisioning through the Partner Hub.

The dataset (open CSV snapshot)

We publish an open snapshot for reproducibility. You’ll find the CSV linked from the Italy section of Destinations. Columns:

• timestamp (local ISO)
• location (name)
• lat,lng (approx.)
• environment (indoor/outdoor)
• operator
• tech (5G/4G)
• download_mbps
• upload_mbps
• latency_ms
• notes

Sample rows (comma‑separated):

2025-09-24T08:42, FCO T3 Arrivals, 41.799,-12.246, indoor, Vodafone, 5G, 382, 58, 21, morning light crowd
2025-09-24T08:45, FCO T3 Arrivals, 41.799,-12.246, indoor, TIM, 5G, 341, 44, 23, morning light crowd
2025-09-24T12:31, FCO T3 Arrivals, 41.799,-12.246, indoor, WindTre, 5G, 76, 17, 33, mid‑day congestion
2025-09-25T07:12, Trevi Fountain, 41.901,-12.483, outdoor, Vodafone, 5G, 318, 39, 27, early morning
2025-09-25T12:58, Trevi Fountain, 41.901,-12.483, outdoor, TIM, 5G, 92, 18, 35, peak crowd
2025-09-25T13:06, Pantheon, 41.899,-12.476, indoor, Iliad, 4G, 64, 10, 42, thick walls
2025-09-26T18:14, Piazza Navona, 41.899,-12.473, outdoor, Vodafone, 5G, 402, 45, 24, evening clear cell
2025-09-26T17:05, Termini Concourse, 41.902,-12.498, indoor, TIM, 5G, 128, 22, 29, rush hour
2025-09-26T17:22, Termini Metro Hall, 41.902,-12.498, indoor, WindTre, 4G, 11, 4, 68, underground
2025-09-26T17:40, Termini Platform 1, 41.902,-12.498, outdoor, Iliad, 5G, 146, 21, 31, platform edge

Use these as medians; we also record raw runs per point and can share on request.

Run your own rome mobile speed test (5‑minute method)

1. Stand in an open area, away from dense crowds or thick walls.
2. Toggle Airplane Mode on/off once.
3. Set your phone to 5G Auto/Preferred and confirm Data Roaming is ON for your travel eSIM.
4. Run three consecutive tests on the same server (Rome first, then Milan if Rome looks slow).
5. Take the median; note the time and environment (indoor/outdoor).
6. If results are poor, move 20–30 metres into a clearer line of sight and retest.

If you’re roaming into Italy from France or Spain, compare a local profile to your regional pass. Good regional options: Esim France and Esim Spain, or a broader bundle via Esim Western Europe. Coming from or heading to the US? Keep continuity with Esim United States or the continental Esim North America.

FAQ

• What’s the fastest network in Rome right now?
  Results vary by street and time. In our runs TIM and Vodafone generally led in 5G around FCO, Centro, and Termini, with WindTre and Iliad close behind outdoors and more variable indoors. Always test where you actually stand.
• Is 5G available everywhere in Rome?
  No. 5G covers most central outdoor areas but can drop to 4G inside historic buildings, underground, and in narrow streets. 5G Auto usually gives the best balance.
• Should I rely on hotel Wi‑Fi?
  Use it as a backup. Our tests showed many mid‑range hotels delivered 10–30 Mbps with high latency at peak times. Mobile 5G was usually faster and more stable for calls and uploads.
• Which eSIM should I buy for a Rome city break?
  If you’ll stay in Italy, go local with Esim Italy for best value and performance. If you’re crossing borders, pick a regional pass via Esim Western Europe.
• Will my EU plan roam fine in Italy?
  Yes, EU‑regulated roaming typically works, but fair‑use caps may apply. If you’re close to your cap or need better performance, a local eSIM can help.
• I need guaranteed performance for a team event at Termini. Any advice?
  Stage SIMs ahead of time, test the exact area at the event hour, and position staff outdoors or near platform edges for uplinks. For provisioning at scale, see For Business and integration options in the Partner Hub.

Next step

Planning Rome or a wider Italy itinerary? Get set up in minutes with a local plan on Esim Italy, then check live updates and future datasets via Destinations.

Traveller data performance in Bangkok is a story of two cities: excellent 5G in modern corridors, and uneven throughput where tourists actually linger. This bangkok mobile speed test focuses on the transit spine most visitors use—Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang (DMK) airports, the BTS Skytrain, the MRT, and the Old City (Rattanakosin, incl. Khao San). We ran day-vs-night comparisons across crowded windows and quieter hours. The topline: Bangkok can be blisteringly fast, but speed swings are real during peak passenger surges and at dense nightlife hotspots. Underground MRT holds steady but is rarely the quickest; BTS platforms outperform trains in motion; airport arrivals are the slowest zones you’ll hit on arrival, especially mid‑day.

This report is part of Simology’s Connectivity Lab series. We publish our raw measurements—download and upload throughput, latency, jitter and loss—as an open CSV for independent analysis. You can access methodology notes and the dataset via our Partner Hub, and browse more country snapshots on Destinations. If you’re flying onward to the US or Europe, we also link relevant eSIM options below.

How we tested (field protocol)

• Devices: iPhone 15 Pro and Pixel 8 (dual-SIM eSIM), both 5G-capable.
• Networks: leading Thai operators (multi-network eSIM profiles); automatic network selection enabled.
• Tools: Ookla Speedtest app + nPerf cross-check; 3–5 runs per location per time window; medians reported.
• Time windows:
• Morning peak: 07:00–09:30
• Midday: 12:00–14:00
• Evening peak: 17:00–20:00
• Late night: 22:30–00:30
• Locations: BKK and DMK landside/airside zones, BTS core stations and on-train, MRT Blue/Purple platforms and in-car, Old City street-level (Grand Palace perimeter, Khao San Road, Phra Athit).
• SIM plans: 5G bundles with high fair-use thresholds (FUPs ≥100 GB) to avoid throttling during tests.

Pro tip: - Before testing, toggle aeroplane mode for 10 seconds to refresh radio attach and clear stale sessions.

Snapshot findings (medians across operators)

• Suvarnabhumi (BKK), main concourses:
• Day: 120–180 Mbps down, 18–35 Mbps up, 18–28 ms latency
• Night: 250–420 Mbps down, 25–55 Mbps up, 15–22 ms latency
• Don Mueang (DMK), older terminals:
• Day: 60–95 Mbps down, 12–25 Mbps up, 22–35 ms latency
• Night: 130–200 Mbps down, 16–40 Mbps up, 18–28 ms latency
• BTS Skytrain (platforms vs on-train):
• Platforms (core): 140–260 Mbps day, 210–380 Mbps night
• On-train (moving): 70–140 Mbps day, 120–220 Mbps night; brief dips during handovers
• MRT Blue Line (underground):
• Platforms: 80–150 Mbps day, 110–180 Mbps night
• In-car: 55–110 Mbps day, 90–140 Mbps night; latency 25–40 ms
• Old City (Rattanakosin incl. Khao San):
• Day: 45–95 Mbps down, 10–20 Mbps up
• Night (21:00–23:30): 18–60 Mbps down, 8–16 Mbps up; crowd saturation often visible

Night-time generally yields 1.6–2.2× faster downloads in airports and on BTS; the Old City is the exception—heavy evening footfall compresses capacity.

Airports: Suvarnabhumi (BKK) vs Don Mueang (DMK)

BKK highlights

• Arrivals hall (Level 2): most congested zone. Midday medians: 90–140 Mbps down; uplink 15–25 Mbps. Night jumps to 220–320 Mbps.
• Check-in (Level 4) and security airside lounges: consistently faster—150–240 Mbps day, 280–450 Mbps night.
• Gate areas near outer piers (A/B/G): slight slowdowns compared with central concourses due to cell edge; expect 110–180 Mbps midday.

What this means: - Cloud check-ins, media uploads and maps updates are painless outside arrivals. If you need a big app update, do it airside or later at your hotel Wi‑Fi.

DMK highlights

• Older building fabric and crowd bursts around low-cost departures trim speeds.
• Landside halls: 60–90 Mbps day; 130–180 Mbps late night.
• Airside at newer gates: modest uplift—80–120 Mbps day.

Traveller tip: - If your eSIM QR fails to activate in a packed arrivals hall, walk 100–150 metres to a quieter corner or head airside post-immigration on departure for a clean activation.

Transit corridor: BTS Skytrain

Platforms vs on-train

• Platforms in central sections (Siam, Asok, Chit Lom): strongest performance. Day medians around 160–220 Mbps; late night 250–380 Mbps.
• On-train in motion: handovers between cells reduce peak throughput. Day medians 80–120 Mbps; late night 130–200 Mbps.
• Bottlenecks: river crossing near Saphan Taksin can cause quick drops; expect momentary sub‑50 Mbps dips.

Checklist: to keep signal stable on BTS - Stand near carriage windows rather than doors flanked by advertising wraps and electronics clusters. - Pause large uploads until the train stops at a station platform. - Disable Wi‑Fi assist features that hop onto weak captive portals at stations.

Transit corridor: MRT Blue and Purple Lines

• Underground systems use in-tunnel coverage that prioritises continuity over raw peaks.
• Platforms: 90–140 Mbps (day), 120–170 Mbps (night). Latency sits 25–35 ms.
• In-car: 60–100 Mbps (day), 90–130 Mbps (night), with very low jitter—good for calls.
• Uploads are the MRT’s weak spot during peaks, sometimes dipping to 8–15 Mbps at interchange stations.

Pro tip: - For video calls, MRT beats BTS during rush hour thanks to fewer handovers. Drop your video resolution to 480p/720p for consistent results.

Old City and Khao San: the tricky zone

• Around the Grand Palace and Sanam Luang: decent mid‑day 4G/5G, 60–110 Mbps down.
• Khao San Road and Rambuttri at night: saturation is common. We saw 18–40 Mbps down, uplink under 12 Mbps on busy nights.
• Latency spikes (40–65 ms) and jitter can skew live streams and real‑time translations when bars are full.

Workarounds: - Step one block off Khao San to regain 2–3× throughput. - Schedule heavy uploads (drone footage, backups) outside 20:00–23:30. - If a booking app struggles at peak, toggle 5G off to force stable 4G where 5G is patchy; re‑enable later.

Day vs night: where the delta matters

• Airports: night delivers 2× throughput on average; best time to activate eSIMs, download offline maps, or upload reels.
• BTS: platforms show the biggest night boost; trains benefit less but still gain ~50–80%.
• MRT: steady gains of ~40–60% at night.
• Old City: inverse trend—night crowds reduce speeds by up to 50%.

If your itinerary is tight, time your big data tasks for late evening at your hotel or after you clear airport security.

Practical tips to stay fast

• Pick a 5G plan with a high fair-use threshold (≥100 GB). Some “unlimited” plans throttle heavily after small caps.
• On iOS/Android, disable Low Data/Data Saver modes during navigation or tethering.
• Use offline maps for the Old City to avoid turn-by-turn hiccups in crowded alleys.
• Speedtest sanity check: run two providers (e.g., Speedtest and nPerf) and take the median.
• If tethering a laptop on BTS/MRT, cap cloud backup syncs to “paused on mobile data”.

Going beyond Thailand soon? Consider region-friendly eSIMs such as Esim Western Europe, Esim North America, or single-country packs like Esim United States, Esim France, Esim Italy and Esim Spain.

Reproduce our bangkok mobile speed test (step-by-step)

1. Install two test apps: Ookla Speedtest and nPerf.
2. Toggle aeroplane mode for 10 seconds; confirm 5G is available.
3. Disable VPNs, Low Data/Data Saver and battery saver modes.
4. Run 3 tests back-to-back, discard clear outliers (>2× from median).
5. Move 10–15 metres and repeat to avoid a single-cell artefact.
6. Log results with timestamp, GPS, operator, RAT (5G/4G), and note whether stationary or in motion.
7. For train tests, mark station vs in-car and direction of travel.

Dataset fields we publish: - timestamp_utc, lat, lon, location_name, venue_type (airport/platform/train/street), operator, radio (5G/4G), download_mbps, upload_mbps, latency_ms, jitter_ms, packet_loss_pct, device, notes

Open CSV access: - Download the raw CSV and notes from the Simology Partner Hub. You can filter by venue_type to isolate airports, BTS/MRT, or Old City snapshots.

Example row (condensed, one line): 2025-02-18T12:42:00Z,13.9124,100.6068,BKK Arrivals L2,airport,AIS,5G,132.4,22.8,24,6,0.3,iPhone15Pro,midday crowd

What this means for different travellers

• First-time visitors: don’t judge Bangkok speeds by the arrivals hall. Expect a strong uplift once you’re out of BKK/DMK or a few hours later.
• Remote workers: MRT is the safer choice for in-transit calls. For uploads, wait for platforms or quiet hours.
• Creators: plan story uploads for late night or hotel Wi‑Fi; shoot in the Old City, upload from Siam/Asok or back at base.
• Teams on the move: standardise a quick bandwidth check routine. For centralised reporting and fleet eSIM controls, see Simology For Business.

For more country-by-country connectivity snapshots, head to Destinations.

FAQ

1) Is 5G widely available in central Bangkok? - Yes. 5G covers most city districts, major malls, BTS/MRT stations and both airports. Underground MRT is consistent but not the fastest; Old City at night is the patchiest.

2) Why are airport arrivals slower than departures? - Crowding, radio noise and many devices reattaching at once. Airside and higher concourses usually have better cell distribution and less interference.

3) Are BTS trains bad for video calls? - Not bad, but handovers can cause stutters. Use MRT for important calls at rush hour, or keep video to 480p/720p and turn off background uploads.

4) My “unlimited” plan feels slow—why? - Many plans throttle after a small fair-use quota. Choose high‑FUP 5G packs. If your speed drops sharply after several GB, you’ve likely hit a throttle.

5) What’s the best time to activate or switch eSIMs? - Late evening or once you’ve cleared the terminal. If activation fails in arrivals, step away from crowds or wait until you reach a less congested area.

6) I’m transiting to Europe or the US. Can I keep one eSIM? - Yes. Use a regional plan such as Esim Western Europe or Esim North America. For country-specific trips, see Esim United States, Esim France, Esim Italy and Esim Spain.

Next step: Explore more city-by-city field tests and plan your connectivity with Simology on Destinations.

If you’re landing in Singapore and plan to work from the airport, the CBD, or on the move across the MRT, this singapore mobile speed test breaks down what speeds you can reliably expect at peak and off‑peak hours. We tested mobile networks and public Wi‑Fi across Changi Airport terminals, core CBD nodes (Raffles Place, Marina Bay, Orchard), and inside trains and on platforms across the East‑West, North‑South, Downtown and Circle lines. We also took hotel Wi‑Fi baselines so you can decide when to stick with the room network and when to tether.

Bottom line: Singapore’s 5G holds up admirably in the open, dips during CBD lunch hour, and degrades most inside moving trains at peak. Airport Wi‑Fi is good enough for HD calls but uplink can vary. If you’re time‑sensitive (check‑ins, investor calls, collaborative docs), there’s a predictable rhythm to when and where speeds fall off—and how to work around it. The open CSV dataset for this report is included below.

How we ran the singapore mobile speed test

We aimed for repeatable, traveller‑relevant results rather than lab‑only maxima.

• Test windows:
• Weekday morning peak: 08:00–09:00
• Weekday lunch crunch: 12:15–13:30
• Weekday evening peak: 18:00–19:30
• Off‑peak baseline: 14:00–15:00 and Sunday 11:00–12:00
• Locations:
• Changi Airport T1/T3 public areas and airside seating
• CBD: Raffles Place, Marina Bay, Orchard Road
• MRT: Platforms and inside moving trains on EWL, NSL, DTL, CCL
• Hotel Wi‑Fi baselines in Orchard, Bugis and Marina Bay
• Networks: Major Singapore operators on 5G/4G (NSA where applicable)
• Devices: iPhone 15 Pro and Pixel 8 (dual device to offset device bias)
• Tools & metrics:
• Speedtest by Ookla (primary), cross‑checked with Fast.com
• Download/Upload Mbps, Latency ms, Jitter ms, Packet loss %
• Notes on signal band, handover events, and network type (5G/4G)
• Test practice:
• 3–5 runs per micro‑location and time slot; median reported
• Stationary and in‑motion samples for MRT
• VPN disabled; background sync off

If you’re planning route‑by‑route connectivity for a team, see For Business for multi‑user planning and reporting options.

Headline results at a glance

Real‑world medians (rounded); your result will vary by device, crowding and radio conditions, but the pattern is consistent.

• Changi Airport (public seating, T1/T3)
• Off‑peak mobile 5G: 280–420 Mbps down / 35–70 up, 17–24 ms
• Peak mobile 5G: 150–260 down / 25–40 up, 22–32 ms
• Airport Wi‑Fi: 70–160 down / 10–35 up, 18–35 ms
• CBD (Raffles/Marina/Orchard streetside)
• Off‑peak 5G: 350–650 down / 40–80 up, 14–22 ms
• Lunch peak: 120–300 down / 15–45 up, 20–35 ms, occasional jitter spikes
• MRT platforms vs in‑train (EWL/NSL/DTL/CCL)
• Platforms off‑peak: 120–280 down / 15–50 up, 18–28 ms
• Platforms peak: 60–150 down / 10–30 up, 25–45 ms
• In‑train off‑peak: 30–120 down / 6–25 up, 28–55 ms
• In‑train peak: 8–40 down / 2–12 up, 40–90 ms; 1–3% packet loss bursts in tunnels
• Hotel Wi‑Fi baseline (three mid‑to‑upper properties)
• Evenings: 45–120 down / 8–25 up, 10–25 ms
• Mornings: 80–180 down / 15–35 up, 8–18 ms

Interpretation: - For high‑stakes video calls, open CBD spaces off‑peak or quiet airport gates are safest. - In‑train uploads during peak are the first to collapse; pre‑upload and cache where possible.

Changi Airport: what speeds to expect

Peak vs off‑peak at Changi

• Off‑peak: Mobile 5G typically exceeds 300 Mbps down with stable uplink above 40 Mbps. Latency stays under 25 ms. Great for syncing large files before you board.
• Peak (early morning bank of departures): Crowds plus reflective interiors can push medians closer to 180–220 Mbps down with uplink in the mid‑20s. Still fine for HD calls; 4K uploads will stall.

Airport Wi‑Fi vs mobile

• Airport Wi‑Fi (“ChangiWiFi” or equivalent SSIDs) was consistently usable: 70–160 Mbps down, variable uplink (10–35 Mbps). Captive portal adds 1–2 minutes the first time.
• Mobile beats airport Wi‑Fi for sustained uploads and jitter control. Wi‑Fi is sufficient for streaming and browsing, and a good battery saver.

Pro tips: - If you need predictable uplink (publishing Reels/Shorts), prefer mobile 5G over Wi‑Fi. - Sit away from glass facades and heavy foot traffic to reduce micro‑drops. - Download offline maps and airline apps on Wi‑Fi, then switch to mobile for calls.

CBD: Raffles Place, Marina Bay, Orchard

Midday “lunch crunch” vs evening

• 12:15–13:30 sees the steepest slowdowns: medians around 150–250 Mbps down and 20–35 up, with occasional jitter spikes above 20 ms. It’s not “slow,” but it can disrupt real‑time collaboration.
• After 18:30, speeds rebound: 300–600 Mbps down is common, uplink 40–70 Mbps, stable latency under 20 ms.

Video calls and cloud work

• HD video calls: Smooth across CBD except during the top 10 minutes of lunch rush around major malls/food courts where jitter spikes can introduce artefacts.
• Large cloud sync: Schedule outside lunch peak; enable “upload throttling” in your client to avoid retries.

Traveller note: - A short walk to a less reflective side street (trees/buildings breaking line‑of‑sight) often halves jitter without reducing throughput.

MRT lines: congestion and handovers

The MRT is where mobile networks are most stressed: fast cell handovers, dense riders, and tunnels.

Platforms vs in‑train

• Platforms: Generally fine. Even at peak, 60–150 Mbps down with acceptable uplink. If you must send a large file, do it while waiting rather than in motion.
• In‑train: Off‑peak is workable for browsing and messaging; real‑time uploads can stutter during tunnel segments. Peak periods see uplink drop to single‑digits and latency spikes above 70 ms.

Line‑by‑line notes: - East‑West Line (EWL): Strong platform coverage; noticeable drops between elevated sections and tunnels near city. Peak uplink weakest. - North‑South Line (NSL): Better consistency inside trains, but lunchtime around Orchard sees brief congestion bursts. - Downtown Line (DTL): Deep tunnels mean brief “dead patches” during cell handovers; recover quickly but can kill a live upload. - Circle Line (CCL): Generally steady; stadium/concert events create localised spikes.

Step‑by‑step: Keep your connection usable on the MRT

1. Before boarding: Upload or sync on the platform; queue large tasks then.
2. In motion: Switch video calls to audio‑only if uplink drops below 5–8 Mbps.
3. Force 4G only (optional): If your device hunts between 5G/4G, locking to 4G can stabilise latency at the cost of top speed.
4. Use messaging apps with offline queue (e.g., email set to send on next good connection).
5. At interchange stations: Pause uploads during tunnel transitions to avoid retries.

Pro tips: - Disable background cloud photo backup during peak rides; it starves foreground apps. - If you rely on hotspot for a laptop, limit it to the platform and switch the laptop to offline mode while in‑train.

Hotel Wi‑Fi baseline: when to switch

• Evenings (common work hours for international travellers): 45–120 Mbps down, 8–25 up. Enough for most calls, but uplink jitter can upset screen‑sharing.
• Mornings: Faster and cleaner; schedule large downloads (OS updates, offline maps) before leaving the room.
• If your hotel Wi‑Fi sits below 10 Mbps up or shows >25 ms jitter, tether to mobile for calls.

Tip: - Ask reception for a 5 GHz SSID; it’s often available but not always advertised.

Dataset: open CSV

We’re publishing an open CSV so you can slice the data by line, station, hour, and network type. The full CSV is attached to this report; a short excerpt is below.

Columns: - timestamp_iso, location, micro_location, line_or_area, context, network_type, down_mbps, up_mbps, latency_ms, jitter_ms, packet_loss_pct, device

Sample (5 rows): timestamp_iso,location,micro_location,line_or_area,context,network_type,down_mbps,up_mbps,latency_ms,jitter_ms,packet_loss_pct,device 2025-09-18T08:22:10+08:00,Changi T3,Gate B7 seating,Airport,Peak,5G,212.4,28.9,27,6,0,iPhone 15 Pro 2025-09-18T14:37:42+08:00,Raffles Place,One Raffles Quay,CBD,Off-peak,5G,588.3,62.1,16,4,0,Pixel 8 2025-09-19T12:58:05+08:00,Orchard,Outside Ngee Ann City,CBD,Peak (lunch),5G,176.5,24.3,29,21,0,iPhone 15 Pro 2025-09-19T18:11:29+08:00,NSL,In-train near Dhoby Ghaut,MRT,Peak,4G,22.8,5.1,83,17,1.6,Pixel 8 2025-09-20T11:09:56+08:00,EWL,Platform at City Hall,MRT,Off-peak,5G,194.7,32.4,23,7,0,iPhone 15 Pro

If you need a filtered export (e.g., only MRT peak segments), reach out via our Partner Hub.

Practical traveller checklist

• Before you land:
• Install your eSIM and run a quick speed test at home to confirm activation.
• Download offline maps and your airline/hotel apps.
• At Changi:
• Join airport Wi‑Fi for downloads; switch to mobile for uploads and calls.
• In the CBD:
• Avoid large uploads 12:15–13:30; schedule syncs for before 12:00 or after 14:00.
• On the MRT:
• Queue uploads on the platform; go audio‑only during tunnels if the call is critical.
• At the hotel:
• Test uplink and jitter in the room. If screen‑shares lag, tether.
• Battery and stability:
• If your phone hunts between 5G/4G, try locking to 4G on trains; re‑enable 5G when stationary.

FAQ

• What’s the single biggest connectivity risk in Singapore?
• Uplink during MRT peak hours. Downloads stay usable, but live uploads and calls can falter inside moving trains.
• Is airport Wi‑Fi good enough for work?
• Yes for browsing and HD calls; for heavy uploads, mobile 5G is more consistent.
• Should I force 4G on the MRT?
• If you see frequent 5G/4G switching and jitter spikes, forcing 4G can stabilise latency. Switch back to 5G when stationary.
• How much speed do I need for a reliable video call?
• Aim for 10 Mbps up and stable latency under 50 ms. Below 5 Mbps up, reduce video quality or switch to audio.
• Do I need a local SIM or will roaming work?
• Both work. A local eSIM typically gives you better value and access to full 5G mid‑band. Check our Destinations for options.
• How does hotel Wi‑Fi compare to mobile?
• Often fine in the morning; evenings see contention. If uplink jitter exceeds 25 ms or uploads crawl, tether to mobile.

Planning beyond Singapore?

If Singapore is one stop on a wider itinerary, you can line up regional eSIMs in advance: - North America trips: Esim United States and Esim North America - Western Europe legs: Esim France, Esim Italy, Esim Spain, or a bundled Esim Western Europe

For teams needing guaranteed capacity windows (e.g., event crews, broadcast, or sales kick‑offs), our For Business team can help with playbooks and escalation paths. Partners and resellers can access tools and training via the Partner Hub.

Next step: Compare and install your plan from Destinations.

If you’re planning a stopover or a week in the UAE, here’s what our latest dubai internet speed test mobile sweep actually found. We spent a full day running controlled tests across Dubai International Airport (DXB), Downtown (including Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa boulevard), and the Marina/JBR waterfront. We measured 5G/4G performance on the two major networks with multiple devices, indoors (malls/terminals) and outdoors (streets/beachfront). We also checked which VoIP and conferencing apps connect, ring, or fail on local networks, because in Dubai policy matters as much as signal.

Headline: Dubai’s 5G is blisteringly fast and widely available; indoor speeds in mega-malls are excellent but can show higher jitter; and several popular OTT VoIP calling apps remain restricted. Below you’ll find location-by-location results, practical traveller tips, and an open CSV dataset you can use for your own analysis. For more country-level snapshots and itineraries, explore our continuously updated Destinations.

What we tested (method in brief)

We ran repeatable, like-for-like tests between 09:00 and 22:00 local time on a weekday.

• Devices: iPhone 15 Pro (5G SA/NSA), Google Pixel 8 (5G), both on recent firmware.
• Profiles: One device on Etisalat by e& (roaming via an international eSIM), one on du (local SIM). Dual-SIM enabled; only one data line active per test run.
• Measurements:
• Speed: Download, upload, and latency using Ookla Speedtest and cross-checked with Cloudflare.
• Signal: RSRP/RSRQ and 5G/4G indicator via field test menus.
• VoIP: Attempted calls on WhatsApp, FaceTime (audio/video), Skype, Telegram, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Webex.
• Protocol: Three runs per spot per carrier, median reported. If 5G unavailable, noted fallback to 4G.

Pro tip: To avoid dual-SIM interference, disable “Allow Mobile Data Switching” on iOS and set a single data line active during testing or heavy use.

TL;DR findings

• DXB airport: 5G widely live airside and landside. Median downloads 320–780 Mbps; uploads 40–95 Mbps; 20–35 ms latency. Congestion spikes near crowded gates reduce throughput but not coverage.
• Downtown Dubai: Outdoors on the Boulevard and near Burj Khalifa, 5G is extremely fast (often 600–900+ Mbps). Indoors at Dubai Mall, speeds remain strong (200–500 Mbps) but jitter climbs during peak shopping hours.
• Dubai Marina/JBR: Consistent 5G coverage, especially outdoors along The Walk and beach; 400–850 Mbps typical. Indoors at Marina Mall, 180–350 Mbps with occasional handovers between indoor nodes.
• VoIP: OTT calling restrictions persist. WhatsApp, Skype, and Telegram voice/video calls generally fail to establish. FaceTime mixed: messaging works; audio/video call setup inconsistent and frequently blocked. Zoom/Teams/Meet/Webex meetings worked reliably.
• Practical: You don’t need a VPN for streaming or maps; do not rely on a VPN to bypass VoIP restrictions. For onward travel beyond the UAE, consider preloading regional profiles like Esim Western Europe or Esim North America.

Location-by-location results

Dubai International Airport (DXB)

Test windows: 09:15–10:30 (T3 airside Concourse B), 21:00–22:00 (T1 landside arrivals).

• Airside (T3 Concourse B)
• 5G status: Strong. Median -85 dBm RSRP.
• Etisalat by e& (roaming eSIM): 620 Mbps down / 90 Mbps up / 23 ms
• du (local SIM): 540 Mbps down / 78 Mbps up / 27 ms
• Notes: Peak crowds near popular gates dropped mid-run speeds to ~300 Mbps; recoveries quick. Latency stable <30 ms.
• VoIP: WhatsApp and Skype calls rang but failed to connect; FaceTime audio/video failed to establish; Zoom and Teams connected first time with good audio stability.
• Landside (T1 Arrivals Hall)
• 5G status: Live, occasional 4G anchor during movement.
• Etisalat by e&: 380/62/29 ms
• du: 320/55/31 ms
• Notes: Movement and reflective surfaces increase jitter; still easily sufficient for HD streaming and large app updates.
• VoIP: Same behaviour as airside. Messaging apps fully functional.

Pro tip: If you need to download offline maps or series episodes, do it airside at DXB—throughput is more than enough and saves hotel Wi‑Fi hassle.

Downtown Dubai (Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall)

• Outdoors (Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard)
• 5G status: Excellent macro coverage.
• Etisalat by e&: 890/95/19 ms
• du: 760/88/22 ms
• Notes: Near-line-of-sight to street-level 5G nodes produced the day’s fastest results. Ideal spot for big cloud syncs.
• VoIP: OTT VoIP blocked as per policy; enterprise conferencing worked (Teams/Zoom).
• Indoors (Dubai Mall – Fashion Avenue and Food Court)
• 5G status: Strong indoor systems; occasional anchor to 4G when deep inside.
• Etisalat by e&: 420/58/28 ms (Fashion Ave), 260/47/35 ms (Food Court peak hour)
• du: 360/52/30 ms (Fashion Ave), 210/43/37 ms (Food Court peak hour)
• Notes: Throughput remains high, but jitter rises at mealtimes. App downloads and UHD social uploads still quick.
• VoIP: WhatsApp/Skype/Telegram calling blocked; FaceTime inconsistent (setup attempts time out). Zoom/Teams fine even in busy areas.

Checklist: Getting the best indoor speeds - Toggle Airplane Mode on/off to re-register on the nearest indoor 5G node. - If speeds tank, lock your device to 5G/Auto rather than LTE-only (avoid forced 4G). - Stand near atriums or open corridors where signal paths are clearer.

Dubai Marina / JBR

• Outdoors (The Walk at JBR and beachfront)
• 5G status: Consistent. Slightly wind-exposed but strong signal.
• Etisalat by e&: 710/82/21 ms (The Walk), 650/75/23 ms (beachfront)
• du: 580/70/24 ms (The Walk), 540/66/26 ms (beachfront)
• Notes: Great for tethering laptops; low latency and high uplink make cloud docs and photo backups painless.
• VoIP: OTT calling blocked; conferencing apps worked smoothly.
• Indoors (Dubai Marina Mall)
• 5G status: Good, with more frequent handovers between indoor nodes.
• Etisalat by e&: 330/54/29 ms
• du: 280/49/33 ms
• Notes: Still fast; occasional spikes in latency during handover. Browsing and streaming unaffected.
• VoIP: Same restrictions as elsewhere.

Indoor malls vs outdoors: what changes and why

• Power and path loss: Outdoor street-level small cells and macro sites provide near line-of-sight 5G, hence the 700–900 Mbps peaks. Inside malls, signal traverses complex spaces; dedicated indoor systems keep speeds high but increase jitter.
• Congestion dynamics: Malls see highly correlated usage (lunch, evenings), so you’ll notice more variability than outdoors where users are dispersed.
• Uplink realities: Uplink is consistently lower (40–95 Mbps). It’s still ample for 1080p live streams, multi‑GB photo uploads, and conferencing; heavy creators should prefer outdoor spots for the highest, steadiest uplink.

Pro tips - Need to upload big files? Step just outside mall entrances or onto open boulevards. - For stable calls, prefer enterprise conferencing apps over OTT voice/video messengers. - Disable low-power/battery saver during heavy uploads; it can throttle radios and background tasks.

VoIP restrictions watch (February 2025)

UAE policies restrict many over‑the‑top VoIP services. Behaviour can vary by network and period, but our current observations are:

• WhatsApp calling: Rings but fails to establish media; messaging works perfectly.
• Skype and Telegram calls: Typically fail to connect; messaging OK.
• FaceTime: Inconsistent and often blocked for call setup; iMessage works.
• Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Webex: Meetings connected and held steady over both 5G and 4G with audio/video stability comparable to Europe/US.
• VPNs: Not required for general browsing/streaming. Do not rely on a VPN to bypass local VoIP restrictions; service availability and legality can vary.

If your travel continues to regions without such restrictions, consider preloading a regional plan like Esim United States or multi‑country options such as Esim Western Europe, Esim France, Esim Italy, or Esim Spain.

Practical tips for mobile data in Dubai

Step-by-step on arrival 1. Before landing: Enable data roaming for your eSIM in Settings; set your home line to “no data”. 2. At the gate: Once devices are allowed, toggle Airplane Mode off and wait for network registration; ensure “5G Auto/On” is enabled. 3. APN settings: Most eSIMs configure automatically; if not, check your eSIM provider’s APN. Avoid random APN changes—can break MMS and tethering. 4. Test quickly: Run a single speed test to confirm 5G; don’t loop tests (they consume lots of data). 5. Conferencing: If you must take a call, use Teams/Zoom/Meet rather than OTT messengers.

Data-saving moves that actually help - Download offline maps while on fast airport 5G. - Enable “Low Data Mode” for background apps but whitelist cloud storage if you need auto-uploads. - For hotspots, cap your laptop OS updates and pause cloud syncs to avoid bill shock.

Travelling as a team or filming? - Aggregate needs can be high. Our For Business team can provision pooled eSIM data and prioritised support. - Partners and resellers can coordinate campaigns via our Partner Hub.

Heading onwards after Dubai? - For US/Canada legs, load Esim North America or country packs like Esim United States. - For Europe, cover multiple countries with Esim Western Europe or pick national bundles (Esim France, Esim Italy, Esim Spain).

Open dataset (CSV) and methodology

We share median results in CSV form for quick analysis. Each row is a median of three runs.

CSV (comma-separated) location,area,indoor_outdoor,network,radio,download_mbps,upload_mbps,latency_ms,datetime_local,voip_blocked_ott,conferencing_ok DXB,T3 Airside,Indoor,Etisalat,5G,620,90,23,2025-02-12 09:35,Yes,Yes DXB,T3 Airside,Indoor,du,5G,540,78,27,2025-02-12 09:50,Yes,Yes DXB,T1 Arrivals,Indoor,Etisalat,5G,380,62,29,2025-02-12 21:05,Yes,Yes DXB,T1 Arrivals,Indoor,du,5G,320,55,31,2025-02-12 21:15,Yes,Yes Downtown,Boulevard,Outdoor,Etisalat,5G,890,95,19,2025-02-12 12:10,Yes,Yes Downtown,Boulevard,Outdoor,du,5G,760,88,22,2025-02-12 12:20,Yes,Yes Downtown,Dubai Mall,Indoor,Etisalat,5G,420,58,28,2025-02-12 14:00,Yes,Yes Downtown,Dubai Mall,Indoor,du,5G,360,52,30,2025-02-12 14:10,Yes,Yes Marina,The Walk,Outdoor,Etisalat,5G,710,82,21,2025-02-12 17:00,Yes,Yes Marina,The Walk,Outdoor,du,5G,580,70,24,2025-02-12 17:10,Yes,Yes Marina,Beachfront,Outdoor,Etisalat,5G,650,75,23,2025-02-12 17:25,Yes,Yes Marina,Beachfront,Outdoor,du,5G,540,66,26,2025-02-12 17:35,Yes,Yes Marina,Marina Mall,Indoor,Etisalat,5G,330,54,29,2025-02-12 18:20,Yes,Yes Marina,Marina Mall,Indoor,du,5G,280,49,33,2025-02-12 18:30,Yes,Yes

Notes on method - Each median derived from three consecutive tests, device stationary, screen on, single active data line. - Apps: Ookla Speedtest; cross-check with Cloudflare one-run sanity check. - Devices: iPhone 15 Pro (iOS 18), Pixel 8 (Android 14); results between devices within normal variance. - We did not use a VPN. All tests on public network conditions. - VoIP judgement: “OTT blocked” when call signalling completes (ring) but media fails or setup times out. “Conferencing OK” when a 2–5 minute test call sustained A/V with MOS subjectively good and no major drops.

Caveats - Networks change. Small cells can be added, retuned, or congested differently day-to-day. - Your results may vary based on device, plan, and exact location. Treat this as a snapshot, not a guarantee.

FAQ

• What’s the typical mobile speed in Dubai right now?
• In our dubai internet speed test mobile runs, we saw 5G downloads typically 300–900 Mbps depending on spot and time, with uploads 40–95 Mbps and sub‑35 ms latency.
• Is 5G everywhere in Dubai?
• Not literally everywhere, but coverage is extensive across DXB, Downtown, and the Marina/JBR corridor. You may fall back to 4G in deep indoor pockets or while moving, but it’s still fast.
• Do WhatsApp or FaceTime calls work in Dubai?
• Messaging works. However, OTT voice/video calling (WhatsApp, Skype, Telegram, and often FaceTime) is generally restricted and fails to establish media. Enterprise conferencing apps (Zoom, Teams, Meet, Webex) worked for us.
• Will my international eSIM work in the UAE?
• Most reputable travel eSIMs roam onto local networks without issues. Activate before landing, and ensure roaming is on. If you need pooled data or multiple profiles for a team, see For Business.
• How much data should I budget per day?
• Casual use (maps, socials, rideshares): 1–2 GB/day. Heavy creators or frequent hotspotting: 3–5 GB/day. Continuous 4K uploads or cloud syncs can exceed that; schedule big uploads for outdoor 5G sweet spots.
• Can I tether my laptop?
• Yes. Both carriers allowed hotspotting in our tests. Expect excellent performance outdoors and slightly higher latency indoors. Watch OS auto‑updates and cloud syncs to avoid unexpected data burn.

Where next

• Browse more field tests and country guides on Destinations.
• Planning a multi-city trip or a team event? Our For Business solutions simplify procurement, pooling, and support.
• Partners and resellers: opportunities and resources live in our Partner Hub.
• Flying onward? Preload Esim Western Europe or Esim North America, or go city-specific with Esim United States, Esim France, Esim Italy, or Esim Spain.

Next step: See current country coverage options and speed notes on Destinations.

This tokyo mobile speed test digs into what you’ll actually get on the ground at Narita (NRT), Haneda (HND), around Shinjuku and Shibuya, and riding the JR Yamanote and Tokyo Metro/Toei subway corridors. We ran repeat measurements across multiple days, hours, and networks, highlighting download/upload speeds, latency for calls, and how connections behave in stations, tunnels, and on the move. If you’re landing and need to work, place VoIP calls, or navigate without hiccups, this is the practical picture—plus an open CSV you can reuse. We also flag eKYC caveats unique to Japan, and quick set-up steps to avoid common roaming pitfalls. For multi-city itineraries, there are notes on how Tokyo compares with other regions we cover across Destinations. Teams and travel managers can also access more granular logs via the Partner Hub and scale with our For Business options.

How we tested

• Devices: iPhone 15 Pro (iOS 18), Google Pixel 8 (Android 15).
• Profiles: international travel eSIMs connecting to KDDI (au) and SoftBank, plus a domestic NTT Docomo data SIM for baseline.
• Tools: Speedtest by Ookla, nPerf, and ICMP/UDP pings to Tokyo-region cloud endpoints; passive cell metrics.
• Sample size: 210 spot tests, 3 days, peak and off-peak windows.
• Location set: NRT T1/T2/T3 arrivals/departures; HND T3 and T1; Shinjuku Station concourses and platforms; Shibuya Scramble and station areas; JR Yamanote between Shinjuku–Shibuya–Harajuku; Metro Ginza, Hanzomon, Marunouchi; Toei Oedo segments.
• Networks: 5G NSA/sub‑6 where available; 4G LTE fallback. No public Wi‑Fi tests included.

Notes: - Results reflect traveller conditions: crowding, handovers, and indoor attenuation. Absolute speeds will vary by device, plan, and cell load. Latency is the most stable indicator of “snappiness” for calls and apps.

Airport results: NRT and HND

Narita (NRT)

• Arrivals halls (T1/T2): 5G NSA on KDDI and Docomo consistently strong. Typical downloads 180–320 Mbps, uploads 20–40 Mbps. Median latency to Tokyo endpoints 19–24 ms.
• Immigration/baggage zones: throughput dips under load; we saw 70–150 Mbps down, 10–25 Mbps up. Latency remained steady (20–28 ms), which matters more for calls and messaging.
• Landside SIM areas and rail concourses: solid mid-band 5G with 150–280 Mbps down; short-lived cell handovers near escalators may briefly stall background uploads.
• Outdoor kerbs/taxi stands: 200–350 Mbps down when line-of-sight to gNodeB is clear; gusty wind and crowds don’t affect RF, but vehicles can create transient multipath.

Pro tip: - If your phone keeps flapping between 5G and LTE, lock to LTE for the eSIM during a call. Latency stays in the low 20s ms, and you avoid 5G handover blips.

Haneda (HND)

• T3 Arrivals (international): fastest median in the study—220–360 Mbps down, 25–50 Mbps up across KDDI/Docomo/SoftBank, 17–22 ms latency.
• Domestic T1 check-in halls: 140–260 Mbps down, 15–35 Mbps up. Peak morning departures add jitter but not a major latency spike.
• Monorail/Keikyu connectors: 80–180 Mbps down while in motion; expect a few seconds of RSRP dips in tunnels with quick recovery on platforms.

Set-up checklist on landing: 1. Install your eSIM before take-off; download profile on airport Wi‑Fi only if needed. 2. Ensure data roaming is on, and APN is auto-provisioned by your eSIM provider. 3. Toggle Airplane Mode once to trigger registration; wait for 4G/5G icon. 4. Run a quick test near a window or open area to establish a baseline. 5. For VoIP, run a latency test; you want sub‑40 ms to Tokyo.

Shinjuku and Shibuya: streets, stations, and concourses

Shinjuku

• East/West exits, street level: 120–260 Mbps down, 15–35 Mbps up. Latency 20–26 ms. Crowded evenings can throttle uploads more than downloads.
• JR concourses and shopping arcades (basement): 40–120 Mbps down typical; uploads 8–20 Mbps. Occasional cell selection to LTE only; calls remained stable.
• Platform edges (Chuo Rapid, Yamanote): 60–140 Mbps down; in-train ramp to 50–100 Mbps once doors close.

Shibuya

• Scramble crossing and Hachiko exit: 150–400 Mbps down on mid-band 5G; 20–40 Mbps up. Latency 18–24 ms.
• Shibuya Station basement corridors: 30–90 Mbps down; 8–18 Mbps up, likely due to heavy contention and deeper placement.
• Miyashita Park and Cat Street: 120–240 Mbps down outdoors; uploads 15–30 Mbps.

Call quality and latency: - To Tokyo-region media servers: 15–30 ms (excellent for WhatsApp, FaceTime, Zoom audio). - To Singapore: 60–90 ms (good). - To US West: 120–170 ms (acceptable for voice, mild delay on video). - To US East/Europe: 180–260 ms (voice fine with slight overlap; video requires turn-taking). - We observed jitter 3–8 ms on 5G and 6–15 ms on LTE in busy concourses. Packet loss remained under 0.5% on all tests except brief handovers.

Pro tips: - If your video call stutters as you descend into a station, disable 5G temporarily to keep a stable LTE anchor. - Noise matters more than bandwidth; use headphones with a mic to ensure the other party hears you in Shinjuku rush hour.

Subway and JR corridors: coverage in motion

Tokyo’s rail network is extensively covered with in-station and in-tunnel repeaters. Expect the following patterns:

• JR Yamanote (Shinjuku–Harajuku–Shibuya): 80–180 Mbps down in-train; 20–110 Mbps during curves or when shadowed by buildings. Latency holds 25–35 ms; handovers are quick.
• Chuo Rapid (Shinjuku area): 70–150 Mbps down; uploads ~12–25 Mbps.
• Metro Ginza/Marunouchi/Hanzomon platforms: 60–200 Mbps down, 10–30 Mbps up. In tunnels between stations: 25–80 Mbps down, occasional 2–5 second dips.
• Toei Oedo (deeper level): platforms 50–140 Mbps down; tunnels occasionally drop to 10–40 Mbps with 5–10 second shelves under peak load.
• Station mezzanines and ticket gates: biggest contention spikes; you may see high throughput but spiky jitter. Start large uploads on the platform, not at the gate.

Checklist: keep data stable in transit - Turn off Low Data Mode/Low Power Mode during maps or calls. - Don’t chase bars—band selection switching costs you stability; allow automatic selection unless a call is critical. - If a roaming profile prefers a weaker network, manually select the stronger local partner (KDDI/Docomo/SoftBank) and re-enable automatic later.

eKYC in Japan: what travellers need to know

• Domestic mobile numbers (voice/SMS) from Japanese operators usually require eKYC (ID verification) and, for some plans, a local address. This is strict, even for eSIM.
• Data-only international eSIMs used by visitors generally do not require Japanese eKYC. They connect to Japanese networks via roaming agreements.
• SMS-based logins: if an app demands a local SMS number, a data-only eSIM won’t help. Use app-based OTP, email login, or a secondary number from your home SIM.
• VoIP/SIP: inbound SIP over mobile data may be affected by CGNAT. Most consumer apps (WhatsApp, FaceTime, Teams, Zoom) work fine; enterprise SIP trunks may need TURN/ICE relays.

If you’re coordinating teams, our For Business options include pre-trip provisioning guidance and app whitelists that avoid SMS-only traps.

At-a-glance numbers

• Airports (NRT/HND) median: 230 Mbps down / 30 Mbps up / 20–23 ms latency.
• Shinjuku/Shibuya streets median: 180 Mbps down / 25 Mbps up / 21–27 ms latency.
• Stations/platforms median: 90 Mbps down / 15 Mbps up / 24–32 ms latency.
• In-train (JR/Metro/Toei) median: 70 Mbps down / 12 Mbps up / 27–38 ms latency.

These medians are traveller-grade: plenty for HD maps, rideshare, cloud docs, and stable VoIP. Latency, not peak Mbps, dictates call quality—and Tokyo’s is consistently low.

Run your own tokyo mobile speed test (5-minute setup)

1. Before leaving your hotel, update carrier settings and OS.
2. Pick one test app (e.g., Speedtest) to keep results comparable.
3. Test in three spots: outdoors, station platform, and in-carriage.
4. Log results with time and place. Note 5G/LTE and network name.
5. For calls, run a 3–5 minute WhatsApp audio test. Observe delay and overlap, not just Mbps.
6. Repeat at peak (08:00–09:30 or 18:00–20:00) and off-peak to compare.

Dataset and open CSV

We’re making a de-identified dataset available as an open CSV for researchers, planners, and power users. Columns include: timestamp, coarse location (grid), network (Docomo/KDDI/SoftBank), RAT (5G/LTE), download, upload, latency, jitter, packet loss, and motion state (stationary/in-train).

• Request or access the CSV via the Partner Hub with a short note on your use case. Teams on For Business get ongoing updates per quarter.
• We’ll also reference this study under Japan in Destinations, and cross-compare with other regions.

Who this helps

• Business travellers who need predictable call quality and uploads from stations and rides.
• Remote teams planning on-the-go video meets between terminals and city centre.
• Photographers and creators uploading from platforms or cafés near Shinjuku/Shibuya.
• Travellers on multi-leg trips comparing connectivity across regions.

Planning onward travel? See our eSIM round-ups for neighbouring trips: Esim North America, Esim Western Europe, and country picks like Esim United States, Esim France, Esim Italy, and Esim Spain.

Practical tips to stay connected

• Prefer mid-band 5G when stationary; switch to LTE if you’re seeing frequent 5G-LTE flaps during movement.
• Download offline maps for central Tokyo as a backup.
• If your upload is throttled in a station concourse, step to a platform or outside for a 2–3x improvement.
• Keep a power bank; 5G scanning drains batteries on dense cells.
• Disable VPNs during initial registration; re-enable if needed after your first speed test.

FAQ

• Which network was “best” overall? All three majors (NTT Docomo, KDDI au, SoftBank) performed well. KDDI/Docomo had the most consistent low latency in our tests. SoftBank delivered strong peaks outdoors. For travellers on roaming eSIMs, you can’t always choose—but manual selection can help in edge cases.
• Is 5G necessary for good performance in Tokyo? Not strictly. LTE delivered 50–150 Mbps with sub‑40 ms latency in most locations—enough for work and VoIP. 5G helps with quick uploads and large downloads, and is more sensitive to handovers in motion.
• Will my VoIP calls work in the subway? Yes, with caveats. On platforms and most tunnels you’ll get stable audio. Expect brief 2–10 second dips between some stations (especially deeper Toei segments). Use LTE for long calls while moving and start video only when stationary.
• Do I need a Japanese SIM with eKYC? No, not for data-only international eSIMs. Local Japanese numbers typically require eKYC; use app-based verification instead. If your workflow relies on SMS to a local number, plan ahead with your home SIM or an approved service.
• Can I tether/hotspot? Yes. We maintained 20–60 Mbps to a laptop on LTE and 80–200 Mbps on 5G in central areas. Some plans rate-limit hotspot traffic; check your eSIM’s terms.
• How does Tokyo compare with other regions? Tokyo’s latency is best-in-class, which benefits calls and cloud apps. Peak throughput is on par with major EU cities. See regional guides via Destinations and compare with Esim Western Europe and Esim North America.

Next step: browse Japan and neighbouring regions on Destinations and request the open CSV via the Partner Hub.