Mountain town in Ladakh, India
Internet in Leh: speed, SIM cards and coworking
Is the internet good in Leh?
Median fixed broadband in India is 64 Mbps and mobile is 128 Mbps (Speedtest Global Index, 2026-08). Café wifi is slow and drops often; fine for messages and email, poor for video calls. Prepaid SIMs from other states often do not work in Ladakh; use a local postpaid or an eSIM that works here.
Getting online in Leh
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Home fibre | Broadband is patchy and slow in most homes and guesthouses; long stays usually rely on hotel wifi or a mobile hotspot. |
| Cafés and coworking | Café wifi is slow and drops often; fine for messages and email, poor for video calls. Prepaid SIMs from other states often do not work in Ladakh; use a local postpaid or an eSIM that works here. |
| Outages | Power cuts and mobile shutdowns during unrest or storms |
| Tourist SIM | Airtel kiosks in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru arrivals halls; passport, visa and photo needed. About ₹350–450 for 28 days with 1.5–2 GB a day. |
| eSIM | Local carriers sell eSIMs to visitors. |
| Carriers | Jio, Airtel, Vi |
| Monthly data plan | ₹350–800 ($3.6–8.3) |
| Blocked services | TikTok, WeChat and many other Chinese apps are banned since 2020; VPNs are legal. Regional mobile-internet shutdowns happen during unrest. |
Coworking in Leh
There's no dedicated coworking scene here; people work from cafés and accommodation.
Internet speeds in South Asia
National medians, Speedtest Global Index.
| Country | Fixed | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Nepal | 89 Mbps | — |
| Bangladesh | 71 Mbps | 39 Mbps |
| India | 64 Mbps | 128 Mbps |
| Sri Lanka | 37 Mbps | 59 Mbps |
| Pakistan | 18 Mbps | 32 Mbps |
| Afghanistan | 6 Mbps | 19 Mbps |
Quick answers
Is the internet fast in Leh?
Median fixed broadband in India is 64 Mbps and mobile is 128 Mbps (Speedtest Global Index, 2026-08). Café wifi is slow and drops often; fine for messages and email, poor for video calls. Prepaid SIMs from other states often do not work in Ladakh; use a local postpaid or an eSIM that works here.
Which SIM card should I get in Leh?
Airtel kiosks in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru arrivals halls; passport, visa and photo needed. About ₹350–450 for 28 days with 1.5–2 GB a day.
Can I use an eSIM in India?
Yes. Local carriers sell eSIMs to visitors, and travel eSIMs work too.
More about Leh
Going to Leh solo?
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Sources
- Speedtest Global Index: India
- Jio
- Airtel
- Vi
- Leh Airport (Airports Authority of India)
- Ladakh tourism permits
- Incredible India
Speeds are medians from Ookla's Speedtest Global Index, cited for reference. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.