Quick Answer
Internet in the DR ranges from excellent fibre in Santo Domingo, Cabarete, and Las Terrenas to unreliable satellite-dependent connections in rural areas. The two main providers are Claro and Altice. Fibre plans run $35 to $80/month. Power cuts affect connectivity more than the internet itself. Remote workers do best in SD, Cabarete, or Las Terrenas.
Understanding DR Internet
The DR's internet infrastructure has improved dramatically since 2020. Fibre optic is now available in most urban areas and popular expat towns. The bigger challenge is not the internet connection itself but the power cuts (apagones) that take out your router and whole neighbourhood even when the fibre line is fine.
A good setup for remote workers means fibre internet plus an inverter or UPS battery backup to keep your router and laptop running through cuts. With that combination, you can work reliably from most towns on this list.
A reliable inverter (battery backup) keeps your internet running through power cuts. Budget $200 to $600 for a setup that covers your router, laptop, and a few lights. It is one of the best investments you can make when living in the DR.
Main Internet Providers
Claro
- Best fibre coverage overall
- Speeds: 50 to 600 Mbps
- Price: $35 to $75/mo
- Strong in Santo Domingo
- Good in north coast towns
- Mobile data backup available
Altice (formerly Orange)
- Strong in some neighbourhoods
- Speeds: 50 to 500 Mbps
- Price: $35 to $80/mo
- Good in capital and Santiago
- Variable quality by area
- Mobile plan integrations
Wind Telecom
- Smaller provider, niche areas
- Speeds: up to 200 Mbps
- Price: $30 to $60/mo
- Some business-focused plans
- Check availability per address
Starlink
- Available in DR since 2023
- Speeds: 50 to 200 Mbps
- Price: $120+/mo + hardware
- Best for rural areas
- Consistent but expensive
- Good backup option
Internet by Region
Santo Domingo
- Fibre availableYes, widely
- Typical speeds100 to 500 Mbps
- ProvidersClaro, Altice
- Coworking spacesSeveral
- Monthly cost$40 to $75
Cabarete
- Fibre availableYes, most areas
- Typical speeds50 to 200 Mbps
- ProvidersClaro, local ISPs
- CoworkingCocoNoma + cafes
- Monthly cost$35 to $65
Las Terrenas
- Fibre availableYes, town center
- Typical speeds50 to 150 Mbps
- ProvidersClaro, Altice
- CoworkingSome cafes, growing
- Monthly cost$40 to $70
Santiago
- Fibre availableYes, most of city
- Typical speeds100 to 400 Mbps
- ProvidersClaro, Altice
- CoworkingGrowing scene
- Monthly cost$35 to $65
Sosúa
- Fibre availablePartially
- Typical speeds30 to 100 Mbps
- ProvidersClaro, some local
- CoworkingLimited, cafe-based
- Monthly cost$35 to $55
Punta Cana / Bavaro
- Fibre availableIn gated areas
- Typical speeds50 to 200 Mbps
- ProvidersClaro, Altice
- CoworkingSome in Bavaro
- Monthly cost$40 to $75
Jarabacoa
- Fibre availableTown center only
- Typical speeds20 to 80 Mbps
- ProvidersClaro, limited
- CoworkingNone dedicated
- Monthly cost$35 to $55
Puerto Plata
- Fibre availableMost of city
- Typical speeds50 to 200 Mbps
- ProvidersClaro, Altice
- CoworkingVery limited
- Monthly cost$35 to $60
Quick Comparison Table
| Region | Fibre | Typical Speeds | Power Reliability | Remote Work Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santo Domingo | Yes | 100 to 500 Mbps | Moderate cuts | Excellent |
| Cabarete | Yes | 50 to 200 Mbps | Some cuts | Very Good |
| Las Terrenas | Yes | 50 to 150 Mbps | Some cuts | Very Good |
| Santiago | Yes | 100 to 400 Mbps | Moderate | Excellent |
| Sosúa | Partial | 30 to 100 Mbps | Some cuts | Good |
| Punta Cana | Gated areas | 50 to 200 Mbps | Variable | Good |
| Jarabacoa | Town center | 20 to 80 Mbps | Frequent cuts | Fair |
| Rural areas | Rare | 4G or Starlink | Unreliable | Challenging |
Mobile Data as Backup
Both Claro and Altice offer 4G LTE across most towns. In areas with weak fibre or during cuts, your phone hotspot becomes your lifeline. A 50GB mobile plan costs $30 to $50 per month. In Cabarete and Las Terrenas, 4G is strong enough to run video calls if your home internet fails.
Buy a local SIM on arrival at the airport or any Claro/Altice store. Claro is generally stronger for data coverage outside Santo Domingo. Bring your passport. Local SIMs work out far cheaper than roaming or international plans for stays longer than two weeks.
Remote Worker Setup Checklist
What you need for reliable connectivity
- Choose an apartment or house with Claro or Altice fibre already installed
- Buy an inverter or UPS battery backup for your router and laptop
- Get a local SIM with a generous data plan for backup hotspot
- Test your connection speeds with Speedtest.net on the first day
- Ask neighbors about power cut frequency before signing a long lease
- Coworking spaces are a good backup for important calls
- Cabarete's CocoNoma is the most established digital nomad coworking space