Internet in Panama City

[ADAM GAUS]

I design, host and maintain websites. A dependable connection to the Internet is very important. In New Jersey, I have a fiber connection to the Internet that provides 50 to 60 megabits per second (mbps) download speed and 5 to 6 mbps upload. Internet costs me $45 per month, as a part of a “triple play” package (HD TV and VOIP telephone). Concerning residential service in Panama City:
– Are fiber or coax connections to the Internet available? (A satellite connection would not be suitable.)
– How dependable are they?
– What download and upload speeds may I expect (not what is advertised)?
– How many companies offer Internet access?
– Are they competitive, or do different companies service specific areas of the city?
– What does Internet access cost per month? (Can you supply a link to each supplier’s website?)
– In an apartment building, is only one Internet supplier generally permitted?
– Is Internet service usually packaged with TV and VOIP telephone?

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Five of the world’s major fiber optic cables intersect in Panama, which usually ranks number one in Latin America for internet coverage and infrastructure.

1- RE: 50 to 60 megabits per second (mbps) download speed and 5 to 6 mbps upload, I believe you could get the same speeds in Panama City

2- RE “Internet costs $45 per month, triple play package (HD TV and VOIP telephone)”: I pay about $25 a month for my home wifi which is probably about half the above speeds, enough for two of us to work on our laptops, download or watch streaming movies on our ipads, etc. I don’t know the costs for commercial use but you can easily get that from the providers. The main ones offer combined tv (including now HD and 3D)/internet/telephony packages and are:

Cable & Wireless (I believe they are currently ranked as the best in the city), details on their services http://www.cwc.com/past-present/our-regions/panama/panama-details.html Rates and packages are laid out here (seems the max they offer is a 25 MB Fiber plan with no download limit, probably gives you an idea RE what the upload would be, but if not, you can contact them): http://www.cwpanama.com/internet/planes/

Cable Onda Panama: http://www.cableonda.com/ (I use them because my building does, so yes, certain buildings use a specific provider).

There are other smaller companies like Claro Panama: http://www.claro.com.pa/portal/pa/pc/personas/ and for slow speeds in remote areas Wipet Internet – http://www.wipet.com and Mobilphone – http://www.mobilphone.com. There’s also a company called Panetma, seems pricey to me but you might want to ask around on forums or just when you get here RE are they so good that they’re worth paying a lot for?

Concerning residential service in Panama City:

– Are fiber or coax connections to the Internet available? (A satellite connection would not be suitable.) Fiber, yes. I don’t know what coax is but I’m sure tech-savvy reps at the providers can answer this for you.

– How dependable are they? Among the best in Latin America. I work online from home every day without difficulty. If a squirrel chews through the lines outside (happens every two years or so), the company comes and fixes it.

– What download and upload speeds may I expect (not what is advertised)? I think what they advertise is what you get, but again I’m not terribly tech savvy. If I can watch movies and do my work, I’m happy. See anecdotes and maybe post a question here, click ahead to page 2, better replies : http://bestplacesintheworldtoretire.com/questions-and-answers/1539-how-s-the-internet-in-panama#

– How many companies offer Internet access? See above

– Are they competitive, or do different companies service specific areas of the city? There are one or two sectors like Casco Viejo where one provider reigns.

Bit more info here: http://www.encuentra24.com/content/panama-en/general/view/choosing-an-internet-service-provider-in-panama

Hope this helps.

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