In Colombia, “Do you have signal?” is not small talk; it is a daily planning tool. A new CRC (Communications Regulation Commission) analysis put real numbers behind that question, showing where mobile networks are strong, and where they still struggle with 5G coverage in Colombia.
The best part is that people do not have to guess anymore. CRC has updated DaTIC with free interactive maps, so anyone can check coverage by operator, technology, and location before switching plans or signing a contract.
A national network snapshot
CRC reported Colombia had 29,820 mobile sites nationwide, with 4G present in 94.5% of sites, 3G in 76%, 2G in 25%, and 5G in 5.2% as of Q4 2024.
The Commission also reported 4G reached 97% of municipal seats and populated centers, which explains why most users still experience 4G as the “default” network.
Infrastructure grew mainly in high-density areas with higher demand, while Bogota, Antioquia, and Valle del Cauca concentrated the most sites, and Guainia, Vaupes, and Amazonas had the lowest infrastructure levels.
Those patterns are not shocking, but they matter because they show the trade-off. Operators build first where usage is high, and remote areas wait longer, even when connectivity can be the difference between isolation and opportunity.
5G rollout, city by city
5G deployment began in February 2024 and reached 1,433 active sites across 43 cities and municipalities by Q4 2024.
Operator Claro held 92.2% of those 5G sites, while Tigo and Movistar shared 7.8% through a joint deployment, and WOM reported no 5G sites as of December 2024.
On coverage, CRC reported 5G reached 19% in urban zones nationwide, with Bogota leading at 69.2% and Medellin and Cali close behind at 52.9% and 52.6%.
Barranquilla reached 32.9% and Cartagena 17%, showing how “5G in Colombia” can feel very different depending on which city someone lives in.
DaTIC maps, now public
CRC added a new feature to DaTIC that provides interactive mobile coverage maps, with open, updated information about expansion and signal levels across technologies.
Users can filter coverage by department, municipality, operator, and technology, and the platform includes both recent data and historical data since 2023.
The maps use official cartography from DANE and political-administrative boundaries to display signal levels across the country.
These are the basic steps: Enter datic.postdata.gov.co, choose “Servicios moviles,” select “Cobertura,” pick the technology and operator, then turn on “Mapa de cobertura” to see the signal display.
What the gaps really mean
CRC’s numbers show why many users feel 4G is “everywhere,” but also why some regions still fight for stable service. CRC reported higher 4G coverage in the central region than in the south across all major operators.
For example, CRC reported central-region 4G coverage of 98.58% for Claro and 92.77% for Tigo, while the south showed lower figures like 66.20% for Tigo and 48.85% for Movistar.
Overall mobile infrastructure shares of 34.4% for Claro, 25.4% for Tigo, 23.5% for Movistar, and 16.7% for WOM, which helps explain why experiences vary by operator.
The key change is visibility. When coverage becomes searchable, it is easier to demand improvements, easier for cities to plan, and harder for “I think it works” marketing to replace measurable service on the ground.
The map is the message
DaTIC’s maps turn connectivity into something trackable, not mythical. They show real progress on 5G and strong 4G reach, while also making the remaining gaps impossible to ignore.
One detail jumped out: 5G’s 19% urban coverage still sits far below the near-universal reach of 4G in municipal seats and populated centers. That gap explains why many people rarely “feel” 5G day to day, even while rollout headlines keep growing.
For everyday users, the win is simple: Check the map first, then choose. For Colombia’s digital future, the bigger win is that public data can push better investment, fairer coverage, and fewer surprises after the SIM card swap.