Mountain town in Himachal Pradesh, India
Internet in Shimla: speed, SIM cards and coworking
Is the internet good in Shimla?
Median fixed broadband in India is 64 Mbps and mobile is 128 Mbps (Speedtest Global Index, 2026-08). Mall Road cafés have usable wifi; mobile 4G/5G is stronger than most café connections.
Getting online in Shimla
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Home fibre | Fibre from Jio, Airtel and BSNL in town; about 500–1,000 INR a month, less reliable in outer areas. |
| Cafés and coworking | Mall Road cafés have usable wifi; mobile 4G/5G is stronger than most café connections. |
| Outages | Power and data cuts after snowfall and 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 | ₹350–600 ($3.6–6.2) |
| 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 Shimla
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 Shimla?
Median fixed broadband in India is 64 Mbps and mobile is 128 Mbps (Speedtest Global Index, 2026-08). Mall Road cafés have usable wifi; mobile 4G/5G is stronger than most café connections.
Which SIM card should I get in Shimla?
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 Shimla
Going to Shimla solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Shimla meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
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 Spotted something out of date?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.