Internet & Connectivity

Global fixed broadband speeds have climbed sharply over 2024-2026. According to the Ookla Speedtest Global Index (February 2026), the worldwide median fixed download speed is approximately 99 Mbps and mobile is approximately 68 Mbps, but country variation is extreme: Singapore, UAE, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Chile lead with fixed medians above 280 Mbps, while much of sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South Asia remain below 20 Mbps. Starlink, now licensed in more than 110 countries as of early 2026, has become the default fallback for remote workers in rural Portugal, Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, and most of Africa, with its Roam (formerly RV) plan priced at $50/month regional and $165/month global as of January 2026. American expats should budget for three layers of connectivity: a home fiber/cable line (where available), a local eSIM or postpaid SIM for mobile, and a backup (Starlink, 5G hotspot, or coworking membership). Since the US FCC's 2024 redefinition of broadband to 100/20 Mbps (March 14, 2024), many expats compare foreign service against that benchmark — and countries like Romania, Spain, France, and much of East Asia routinely exceed it at lower prices than the US. The EU's Roam-Like-At-Home rules were extended through 2032 (Regulation 2022/612), meaning an EU SIM works across all 27 member states plus EEA at domestic rates. VPN use is legal in most destinations but restricted or banned in China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Turkmenistan, Belarus, Myanmar, and the UAE (where non-licensed VPNs carry fines up to AED 2 million under Federal Decree-Law 34/2021). US citizens should also note that certain US streaming and banking services geo-block foreign IPs, and that the IRS, Social Security, and some brokerages (Fidelity, Vanguard) flag or restrict access from specific countries regardless of VPN use.

Key Points

• 1Ookla Global Index (Feb 2026): median fixed download ~99 Mbps worldwide; Singapore #1 at ~345 Mbps, US ~260 Mbps, Mexico ~90 Mbps, Portugal ~175 Mbps
• 2Starlink Roam pricing (Jan 2026): $50/mo regional, $165/mo global-roam, $599 standard kit; available in 110+ countries including most of LatAm, EU, and Africa
• 3EU Roam-Like-At-Home extended to 2032 under Regulation (EU) 2022/612 — any EU SIM works across all 27 member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway at domestic rates
• 4FCC redefined US broadband to 100/20 Mbps on March 14, 2024 — a useful benchmark; Romania, Spain, France, South Korea, UAE routinely exceed this for under $40/mo
• 5VPN legality: banned or heavily restricted in China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Turkmenistan, Belarus, Myanmar; UAE fines up to AED 2 million for misuse under Federal Decree-Law 34/2021
• 6eSIM providers Airalo, Holafly, and Nomad cover 200+ destinations; typical 2026 pricing: $15 for 5 GB/30 days in Mexico, $20 for 10 GB/30 days across EU
• 7US financial access: Fidelity, Vanguard, and Schwab may restrict trading from foreign IPs; some brokerages (Interactive Brokers, Schwab International) explicitly support non-US residents