Getting Home Internet in Buenos Aires

[KansasExpat]

Hi,
I'm moving to Buenos Aires in a month and I'm still waiting on my visa because the government is really slow.
However I need internet service at my apartment for my job at the very least and my apartment doesnt offer that service.
I wasnt made aware that the property didnt have internet service until today, they said all utilities were covered, but at the last minute told me "No Fibra Optica"

Can someone give me a relatively detailed synopsis of getting internet setup for my location?
I'm from the United States and havent recieved my DNI yet. The date is getting closer and I just wanna get this taken care of first.
I'd appreciate any help and would be down to buy you a coffee or something if your in Buenos Aires.

 

[Ries]

You need to check your specific address with the various providers.
Its not simple.
For instance, iplan is considered one of the best providers, but they are extremely spotty in their coverage.

HOME PORTAL | PORTAL

IPLAN es una de las empresas líderes en la provisión de servicios de Telecomunicaciones y IT para empresas y hogares en Argentina. La única empresa del mercado que se conecta con todos sus clientes residenciales a través de una red de Fibra Óptica Directa al Hogar (FTTH). Fue fundada en el año...

www.iplan.com.ar

One block will have it, a block away, no go.
You can go to iplan and check.

some neighborhoods, the only choice is fibertel/personal. generally pretty crappy.
Some buildings there will be no fiber optic. We had an apartment for many years where our only option was the fibertel/personal cable tv line, which was hideously slow- commonly 3 to 5 mbs. when it worked.
but other barrios have fibertel fiber optic.
its a crapshoot.
we currently have movistar fiber optic, in retiro.
its slow by US standards, maybe 20 to 25 mbs, but so far, its always worked.
some buildings will have multiple cables up on the roof, and the installer can access.
others, you are stuck with a mobile hot spot from you cell phone.
If internet is a must, you need to make sure about it before signing for a specific apartment.

As you will learn, argentina works on its own system. There is usually a way to make things work, but not always.
It requires patience, stubborness, and often, waiting in lines at physical offices.

Tarifas Fibra Optica Sin Permanencia 🔥 Internet a 19.90 € 🔥

Fibra óptica simétrica de 300 Mb, 600 Mb y 1 Gb sin permanencia. Router Smart WiFi 6 e instalación gratis en 24-48h. ¡Consulta cobertura!

www.movistar.es

https://www.personal.com.ar/internet

 

[KansasExpat]

You need to check your specific address with the various providers.
Its not simple.
For instance, iplan is considered one of the best providers, but they are extremely spotty in their coverage.

HOME PORTAL | PORTAL

IPLAN es una de las empresas líderes en la provisión de servicios de Telecomunicaciones y IT para empresas y hogares en Argentina. La única empresa del mercado que se conecta con todos sus clientes residenciales a través de una red de Fibra Óptica Directa al Hogar (FTTH). Fue fundada en el año...

www.iplan.com.ar

One block will have it, a block away, no go.
You can go to iplan and check.

some neighborhoods, the only choice is fibertel/personal. generally pretty crappy.
Some buildings there will be no fiber optic. We had an apartment for many years where our only option was the fibertel/personal cable tv line, which was hideously slow- commonly 3 to 5 mbs. when it worked.
but other barrios have fibertel fiber optic.
its a crapshoot.
we currently have movistar fiber optic, in retiro.
its slow by US standards, maybe 20 to 25 mbs, but so far, its always worked.
some buildings will have multiple cables up on the roof, and the installer can access.
others, you are stuck with a mobile hot spot from you cell phone.
If internet is a must, you need to make sure about it before signing for a specific apartment.

As you will learn, argentina works on its own system. There is usually a way to make things work, but not always.
It requires patience, stubborness, and often, waiting in lines at physical offices.

Tarifas Fibra Optica Sin Permanencia 🔥 Internet a 19.90 € 🔥

Fibra óptica simétrica de 300 Mb, 600 Mb y 1 Gb sin permanencia. Router Smart WiFi 6 e instalación gratis en 24-48h. ¡Consulta cobertura!

www.movistar.es

https://www.personal.com.ar/internet

A lot of these internet providers require me to have a cell phone number in Argentina before I can get more information.
Could you recommend a prepay cell phone service that will give me a number?
Once I have a number I'm thinking it might be easier to get more information?

 

[Ries]

its very difficult to do most of those things without being physically present.
welcome to the 20th century, in Argentina. (dont expect the 21st to arrive too soon)
even without a DNI, with a passport, you can get a sim or an e sim for a prepay phone account in an office of one of the big 3. It might take a while.
But remote, without a DNI?
forget it.
A lot of stuff requires a DNI and a phone number to even begin to do it online.
my argentine bank, for example, wont let me set up facial recognition on my own phone to log in online, from outside the country.
there are always workarounds, but it aint the USA.
expect to spend some time when you get here in lines at offices.
Its good for you, you will learn the city, some interesting new words (like "tramites", "quilombo", and "puta de madre")

 

[lunar]

... but at the last minute told me "No Fibra Optica"

Check with your portero . In buildings with more than 4 units, internet providers usually have a connection box already installed. The portero can tell you which companies have coverage in your building.

There are two major residential internet providers - Personal and Telecentro. "No Fibra Óptica" doesn't necessarily mean there's no broadband internet connection available. “Fiber optics” availability depends on the area, but even without it, Telecentro often offers decent speeds (like 300 Mbps) over coaxial TV cable.

You don’t need a DNI to get internet service - you can usually sign up with your passport.

A lot of these internet providers require me to have a cell phone number in Argentina before I can get more information.

You will probably need to get a local phone number anyway.

 

[Ries]

again, you have to be here to even find your portero.
they are good at hiding in subsuelos.
If you got 300 mbs over coaxial cable, I bow down before you.
Nobody in my building, or in my immediate neighborhood, ever got close.
I literally ran tests that came up 3. Three Mbs.
But every block is different when it comes to internet.

 

[KansasExpat]

Check with your portero . In buildings with more than 4 units, internet providers usually have a connection box already installed. The portero can tell you which companies have coverage in your building.

There are two major residential internet providers - Personal and Telecentro. "No Fibra Óptica" doesn't necessarily mean there's no broadband internet connection available. “Fiber optics” availability depends on the area, but even without it, Telecentro often offers decent speeds (like 300 Mbps) over coaxial TV cable.

You don’t need a DNI to get internet service — you can usually sign up with your passport.

 

[KansasExpat]

Check with your portero . In buildings with more than 4 units, internet providers usually have a connection box already installed. The portero can tell you which companies have coverage in your building.

There are two major residential internet providers - Personal and Telecentro. "No Fibra Óptica" doesn't necessarily mean there's no broadband internet connection available. “Fiber optics” availability depends on the area, but even without it, Telecentro often offers decent speeds (like 300 Mbps) over coaxial TV cable.

You don’t need a DNI to get internet service — you can usually sign up with your passport.


You will probably need to get a local phone number anyway.

I had planned on getting a local phone number thats not a problem.
Is it safe to say I should WhatsApp my Realtor and say "hey what service provider does the building offer so I can go to that office and sign up?"
He's in contact with the property owner and he could get that information for me. Otherwise I feel like maybe I should back out of this deal and find a place with internet already installed? Im kinda leaning on other peoples experiences here.

 

[lunar]

There’s also mobile internet. With Claro, for example, you can buy a 40 GB data pack for around 25k pesos.

So I will be there in a week, would you recommend me messaging my Remax Realtor over whatsApp ...

Just tell them you absolutely need internet and that you're ready to pay for it. Let them figure out the details.

 

[KansasExpat]

There’s also mobile internet. With Claro, for example, you can buy a 40 GB data pack for around 25k pesos.


Just tell them you absolutely need internet and that you're ready to pay for it. Let them figure out the details.

Okay, much obliged. I'll message him on Monday and get that taken care of. Do you think they'll be pretty accomodating if I just say, "whatever number you want i'll pay for the added service so its set up?