Capital city in Thimphu District, Bhutan
Internet in Thimphu: speed, SIM cards and coworking
Is the internet good in Thimphu?
Cafés and hotels have decent wifi; no real coworking market.
Getting online in Thimphu
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Home fibre | Fibre from Bhutan Telecom and TashiCell reaches most of town; about Nu 1,000–2,000 a month. |
| Cafés and coworking | Cafés and hotels have decent wifi; no real coworking market. |
| Outages | Occasional outages in monsoon storms |
| Tourist SIM | Buy at the Paro airport visitor centre or carrier offices with your passport. TashiCell tourist packs cost Nu 300–1,900. |
| eSIM | Local carriers sell eSIMs to visitors. |
| Carriers | B-Mobile (Bhutan Telecom), TashiCell |
| Monthly data plan | Nu.300–700 ($3.1–7.3) |
Coworking in Thimphu
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 Thimphu?
Cafés and hotels have decent wifi; no real coworking market.
Which SIM card should I get in Thimphu?
Buy at the Paro airport visitor centre or carrier offices with your passport. TashiCell tourist packs cost Nu 300–1,900.
Can I use an eSIM in Bhutan?
Yes. Local carriers sell eSIMs to visitors, and travel eSIMs work too.
More about Thimphu
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Sources
- Speedtest Global Index: Bhutan
- B-Mobile (Bhutan Telecom)
- TashiCell
- Tourism Council of Bhutan
- Bhutan Travel (visa and fee)
- Druk Ride
- Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital
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 Spotted something out of date?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.