Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
Traveling to the other side of the world no longer means disappearing off the map for weeks. From Uruguay, staying in touch with family, friends, or colleagues is surprisingly simple… provided you plan your connectivity well. Between the excellent mobile network, widespread Wi-Fi, eSIMs, and ubiquitous messaging apps, this small country is one of the most connected in Latin America.
This article details all the practical solutions for staying reachable and communicating easily from Uruguay, whether for a short stay or a trip lasting several months.
Understanding the Digital Context in Uruguay
Before talking about SIM cards and apps, it’s important to grasp just how connected Uruguay is. This isn’t a minor detail: it’s what makes your communications with loved ones much smoother than in other destinations.
Nearly all urban households and all public schools in the country are connected to the internet.
To give you an idea, here is a summary of key figures.
Table 1 – Uruguay in Digital Numbers
| Indicator | Approximate Value |
|---|---|
| Total Population | ~3.4 to 3.5 million |
| Internet Users | ~3.08 million |
| Internet Penetration | ~89–98% depending on sources |
| Mobile Subscriptions | ~4.5 to 6.6 million |
| Mobile Penetration | 126–154% (more than one line per person) |
| Median Mobile Speed (2024) | ~61 to 167 Mbps (well above global average) |
| Median Fixed Speed (2024) | ~139 Mbps |
| Social Media Users (2024) | ~2.5 million (≈ 73% of the population) |
In other words, the country already operates on very high-speed internet. For you, this means two essential things: you will find an efficient connection almost everywhere, and residents are accustomed to communicating via the internet, especially through instant messaging.
Time Difference: Scheduling Calls Without Waking Anyone Up
Staying close to loved ones also means respecting their sleep. Uruguay follows a single national time zone, Uruguay Time (UYT), set at UTC-3. The country no longer observes daylight saving time, which simplifies things: no seasonal change to monitor.
In practice, Montevideo has the same time as Buenos Aires or Brasília. Compared to the rest of the world, these references are useful for planning your video calls.
Table 2 – Time Difference Between Uruguay and Some Major Cities
| City / Region | Difference from Uruguay |
|---|---|
| New York | -2 hours |
| Chicago / Mexico City | -3 hours |
| Los Angeles / Vancouver | -5 hours |
| London / Lisbon | +3 hours |
| Paris / Madrid / Berlin | +4 hours |
| Athens / Johannesburg | +5 hours |
| Nairobi / Istanbul | +6 hours |
| Dubai | +7 hours |
| Delhi / Mumbai | +8 h 30 |
| Bangkok | +10 hours |
| Beijing / Singapore | +11 hours |
| Tokyo / Seoul | +12 hours |
| Sydney / Melbourne | +13 hours |
| Auckland | +15 hours |
A simple tip to avoid mistakes: add a second time zone to your smartphone (that of your family or office) or use multiple clocks. Before starting a WhatsApp or FaceTime call, always check that time.
The Major Telecom Players on the Ground
On the ground, three operators dominate the mobile market: Antel, Movistar, and Claro. All three offer 2G, 3G, 4G, and now 5G in the most populated areas.
In Uruguay, the public operator Antel stands out for its extensive national coverage, especially in rural areas. Movistar is known for offering the best connection speeds in urban areas, while Claro focuses on very competitive prepaid plans. There are also virtual operators, like Tuenti or Supertel, which use the infrastructure of the major operators, but for a short tourist stay, you’ll mainly encounter the three main brands: Antel, Movistar, and Claro.
Table 3 – Portrait of the Three Main Mobile Operators
| Operator | Type | Main Strengths | Technologies Offered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antel | Public (national) | Best coverage, including rural areas, 5G pioneer | 2G / 3G / 4G / 5G |
| Movistar | Telefónica subsidiary | Very good speeds in urban areas | 2G / 3G / 4G / 5G |
| Claro | América Móvil Group | Attractive prepaid plans, good city coverage | 2G / 3G / 4G (5G in deployment) |
For staying in touch with your loved ones, the choice of operator will mainly have an impact if you frequently leave major cities for more isolated areas. In that case, Antel is generally the safest bet for keeping a signal.
Local SIM Cards: The Most Economical Solution
For most travelers, buying a local SIM is the simplest and most cost-effective way to stay connected from Uruguay. The rates are incomparable to those of traditional international roaming offered by your home operator.
Where and How to Buy a SIM
You can purchase a SIM card:
– directly upon arrival, at the airports of Montevideo (Carrasco) or Punta del Este, where Antel, Movistar, or Claro kiosks sell standard prepaid or special tourist offers;
– in official operator stores in the city;
– in supermarkets, grocery stores, gas stations, or neighborhood kiosks.
To obtain a local SIM card, you will need to present a passport (or an accepted national ID card), have an unlocked phone, and sometimes provide a local address (your hotel’s address is usually sufficient). The law limits acquisition to three SIM cards per person, a restriction that generally isn’t a problem in practice.
How Much Does It Cost?
The card itself remains very affordable: often between 60 and 65 Uruguayan pesos, or about $1.5 to $2 US. After that, everything depends on top-ups and data packs.
Here are some examples of typical prepaid plans, useful for evaluating your budget.
Table 4 – Examples of Prepaid Mobile Plans for Travelers
| Operator | Pack Name (e.g.) | Main Content | Validity | Approx. Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antel | Día | 3 GB of data | 24 h | ~$0.75 US |
| Antel | Mes 200 | 2 GB of data | 30 days | ~$5 US |
| Movistar | 5 DÍAS | 5 GB + 100 minutes of local calls | 5 days | ~$5 US |
| Claro | Día | 1 GB of data | 24 h | ~$0.75 US |
| Claro | Pack Ya 150 | 3 GB + minutes of local calls | 7 days | ~$3.75 US |
| Claro | Pack Ya 300 | 6 GB + minutes of local calls | 15 days | ~$7.5 US |
There are many variations, including packs with a volume of calls abroad or bonuses for certain apps. Some operators offer massive data promotions (e.g., tens of GB of bonus after a minimum top-up).
To top up, you can:
– buy vouchers at convenience stores, gas stations, or kiosks;
– use the operators’ apps (MiAntel, Mi Claro Uruguay, etc.);
– pay by bank card, sometimes even with an international card.
Data Quantity: How Much Do You Really Need?
Consumption depends heavily on your habits: intensive sharing of photos and videos, heavy use of video calls, or simple messaging.
A few tips for organizing and balancing your week in general.
Plan your menus in advance to balance your diet and avoid waste.
Incorporate regular exercise, like a daily walk or workout sessions.
Structure your week by allocating time for work, leisure, and rest.
Spread chores over several days to avoid being overwhelmed.
Schedule dedicated time slots for relaxation and your hobbies.
Remember to plan a time to see friends or call your family.
– light usage (maps, occasional web browsing, a few messages and emails): 2 GB is enough;
– moderate usage (daily web, social media, a few short video calls): 4 to 6 GB;
– heavy usage (HD video streaming, many long video calls): 8 to 10 GB or more.
If you plan to mainly use WhatsApp for text, audio, and a few videos, a plan with 4 to 5 GB for a week is generally comfortable, especially since many offers include unlimited WhatsApp data or data that doesn’t count against your plan.
Technical Configuration
In most cases, simply inserting the SIM into your unlocked phone will configure everything automatically. If the data doesn’t work, you may need to manually enter the APN (access point name), for example:
– Antel:
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Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.
On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.
Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.
