Choosing between Telmex and Megacable is one of the most common decisions for internet subscribers across Mexico. Both providers dominate the market but use fundamentally different technologies and business strategies. This guide breaks down the key differences to help you make an informed decision based on your location, usage patterns, and budget.
Company Vue d’Ensemble
Telmex (Teléfonos de México)
Telmex is Mexico’s largest telecommunications company, originally the national telephone monopoly privatized in 1990. Owned by América Móvil (controlled by Carlos Slim’s business group), Telmex operates the most extensive fixed-line network in the country. Its internet service is marketed under the Infinitum brand, and its bundled packages fall under the Uno ecosystem (including Uno TV for streaming and linear television).
Megacable
Megacable Holdings is the largest cable television operator in Mexico and the second-largest fixed broadband provider. Headquartered in Guadalajara, Jalisco, the company grew from regional cable TV roots into a full telecommunications provider. Megacable delivers internet over its Hybrid Fiber-Coaxial (HFC) cable network and markets its internet service under the Xview ecosystem alongside its television packages.
Technology: Fiber Optic vs HFC Cable
The most fundamental difference between these two providers is their underlying network technology.
Telmex: DSL and Fiber to the Home (FTTH)
Telmex has been aggressively deploying fiber optic infrastructure. In urban areas, many connections are now FTTH (Fiber to the Home), which delivers symmetrical or near-symmetrical upload and download speeds. In areas where fiber has not yet reached, Telmex falls back to VDSL2 over its existing copper telephone lines, which limits speeds and increases latency compared to fiber.
Fiber advantages:
- Symmetrical upload and download speeds
- Very low latency (typically 5-15 ms to local servers)
- No signal degradation over distance within the fiber segment
- Not affected by electromagnetic interference
- Future-proof for higher speeds
Megacable: Hybrid Fiber-Coaxial (HFC) with DOCSIS
Megacable uses a cable network originally built for television delivery. The company has upgraded most of its plant to support DOCSIS 3.0 and DOCSIS 3.1 standards, which allow high download speeds over coaxial cable. However, cable networks are inherently asymmetrical — download speeds are much higher than upload speeds because bandwidth is shared and more channels are allocated for downstream traffic.
HFC characteristics:
- High download speeds possible (up to 1 Gbps on DOCSIS 3.1)
- Upload speeds significantly lower than download (often 10-20% of download speed)
- Shared bandwidth within a neighborhood node
- Potential for congestion during peak usage hours
- Latency typically 15-30 ms to local servers
Technology Comparison Table
| Feature | Telmex (Fiber) | Telmex (DSL) | Megacable (HFC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Download Speed | 1 Gbps | 100 Mbps | 1 Gbps |
| Max Upload Speed | 500 Mbps | 10 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
| Typical Latency | 5-15 ms | 15-30 ms | 15-30 ms |
| Shared Medium | No | No | Yes (neighborhood node) |
| Symmetrical Speeds | Near-symmetrical | No | No |
| Weather Sensitivity | Very low | Moderate | Low-Moderate |
Speed Tiers and Pricing
Both providers regularly update their plans, but the general structure remains consistent.
Telmex Infinitum Plans
Telmex structures its plans around download speed, and all plans include a landline telephone with unlimited local and national calling.
| Plan | Download | Upload | Typical Monthly Price (MXN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infinitum 100 | 100 Mbps | 50 Mbps | ~$399 |
| Infinitum 200 | 200 Mbps | 100 Mbps | ~$499 |
| Infinitum 500 | 500 Mbps | 200 Mbps | ~$699 |
| Infinitum 1 Gbps | 1 Gbps | 500 Mbps | ~$999 |
Prices are approximate and vary by region and promotional period. Fiber speeds require FTTH availability.
Megacable Internet Plans
Megacable also tiers by download speed. Plans may or may not include telephone service depending on the bundle.
| Plan | Download | Upload | Typical Monthly Price (MXN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xview 100 | 100 Mbps | 10 Mbps | ~$399 |
| Xview 200 | 200 Mbps | 20 Mbps | ~$499 |
| Xview 500 | 500 Mbps | 30 Mbps | ~$699 |
| Xview 1 Gbps | 1 Gbps | 50 Mbps | ~$999 |
Prices are approximate. Promotional rates for new subscribers are often lower for the first 3-6 months.
Key Pricing Observations
- At similar price points, both providers offer comparable download speeds
- Telmex offers dramatically better upload speeds, which matters for video calls, cloud backups, content creation, and working from home
- Telmex includes a phone line in the base price; Megacable may charge extra for telephony
- Megacable frequently offers aggressive introductory discounts that increase after the promotional period ends
Coverage and Availability
Telmex Coverage
Telmex has the broadest geographic coverage of any fixed-line ISP in Mexico. Because it inherited the national telephone infrastructure, Telmex has presence in:
- All 32 states
- Major metropolitan areas (Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Puebla, etc.)
- Mid-size cities and many smaller towns
- Some rural areas (though speeds may be limited to basic DSL)
Fiber optic availability is concentrated in urban and suburban areas. Rural connections are more likely to be DSL over copper, which limits speeds to 20-50 Mbps download in many cases.
Megacable Coverage
Megacable has a strong regional presence but does not match Telmex’s national footprint. Key coverage areas include:
- Strong presence: Guadalajara, León, Morelia, Aguascalientes, Hermosillo, Culiacán, Mazatlán, Querétaro, Veracruz, Villahermosa
- Growing presence: Mexico City metropolitan area, Monterrey, Puebla
- Limited or no presence: Many smaller towns, rural areas, and some states in southeastern Mexico
If you are outside Megacable’s service area, the decision is already made for you — Telmex (or a smaller regional provider) will be your only option.
Reliability and Network Performance
Telmex Reliability
- Uptime: Generally good in fiber-served areas, with reported uptimes of 99%+ in major cities
- Consistency: Fiber connections deliver consistent speeds regardless of time of day since bandwidth is not shared
- Outages: When outages occur, they tend to affect large areas due to centralized infrastructure; resolution can take 24-72 hours for major events
- DNS: Telmex’s default DNS servers have historically been slow; using Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google (8.8.8.8) DNS is recommended
Megacable Reliability
- Uptime: Variable by region; some cities report excellent stability while others experience more frequent micro-outages
- Consistency: Cable connections can slow down during peak hours (typically 7-11 PM) as neighbors share bandwidth at the local node
- Outages: Outages tend to be more localized (affecting a neighborhood rather than a city), but cable plant issues can be harder to diagnose
- Packet loss: Some users report occasional packet loss during peak congestion, which affects gaming and video calls more than general browsing
Bundled Services (Triple Play)
Both companies offer triple-play bundles combining internet, television, and telephone.
Telmex Triple Play
- Internet: Infinitum plans as described above
- Television: Uno TV, which combines a streaming app (similar to Netflix-style interface) with optional linear channels; not as extensive a channel lineup as traditional cable
- Telephone: Unlimited local and national calling included in all plans; international calling available as add-on
- Extras: Claro Video streaming included, Claro Música, integration with Claro (cellular) for combined billing
Megacable Triple Play
- Internet: Plans as described above
- Television: Traditional cable TV with extensive channel lineup; Megacable has historically been stronger in TV content variety; includes HD channels in most packages
- Telephone: Digital telephone service available as add-on
- Extras: Xview streaming platform, some packages include premium channels (HBO, Fox Premium)
If television content variety is a priority, Megacable generally offers a more robust traditional cable TV experience. If you primarily use streaming services and care more about internet speed, Telmex’s bundle may be more practical.
Customer Service
Customer service quality is a common pain point with both providers, though experiences vary significantly by region.
Telmex Customer Service
- Phone support: Available 24/7 at 800-123-2222
- Technician visits: Can be scheduled but wait times of 3-7 days are common
- Online tools: Telmex app and website allow speed tests, bill payment, and basic troubleshooting
- Reputation: Mixed; large bureaucratic organization can be slow to resolve complex issues, but basic support is accessible
Megacable Customer Service
- Phone support: Available during business hours and extended evening hours
- Technician visits: Generally faster scheduling than Telmex in areas with strong Megacable presence (1-3 days typical)
- Online tools: Megacable app for billing and basic account management
- Reputation: Mixed; some regions report very responsive local service while others report difficulty reaching support
Which Provider Should You Choose?
Choose Telmex If:
- You need strong upload speeds (remote work, video conferencing, content creation, cloud backups)
- You live in an area with fiber optic availability
- You want the widest possible coverage and may move within Mexico
- You prioritize consistent speeds that do not degrade during peak hours
- You need a phone line included in your package
- Low latency for gaming is important to you
Choose Megacable If:
- You primarily download and stream content (the asymmetrical speeds are less of an issue)
- You want a better traditional cable TV channel lineup
- Megacable has strong local presence in your city with good infrastructure
- You are attracted by promotional pricing (just be aware of price increases after the promo period)
- Your neighborhood has a well-maintained Megacable node with low congestion
Consider Both or Alternatives If:
- You run a business that depends on uptime — consider having both as primary and backup connections
- Neither provider offers fiber in your area — look into Totalplay (fiber-focused competitor) or Izzi (Televisa’s ISP, available in some regions)
- You need static IP addresses or SLA-backed enterprise service — both offer business-tier plans with these features at higher price points
Running a Speed Test to Verify Your Service
Regardless of which provider you choose, it is important to verify that you are getting the speeds you are paying for. Here are practical steps:
- Connect via Ethernet — Wi-Fi introduces variables that can reduce measured speed
- Use multiple test servers — Try Speedtest.net, Fast.com (Netflix), and the provider’s own speed test
- Test at different times — Run tests at off-peak (morning) and peak (evening) hours
- Document results — If speeds are consistently below 70% of your plan’s advertised speed, contact your ISP with evidence
# Quick command-line speed test (if you have speedtest-cli installed)
# Install: sudo apt install speedtest-cli (Linux) or brew install speedtest-cli (macOS)
speedtest-cli --simple
# Output example:
# Ping: 12.45 ms
# Download: 195.32 Mbit/s
# Upload: 98.76 Mbit/sFinal Thoughts
For most users in Mexico, the decision comes down to availability and upload speed needs. If Telmex fiber is available at your address, it is the stronger technical choice due to symmetrical speeds and dedicated bandwidth. If Megacable has strong infrastructure in your city and you primarily consume content (streaming, browsing, downloading), it can be an excellent and competitive option with a better TV package.
Check both providers’ coverage tools online before making a decision, and do not hesitate to ask neighbors about their real-world experiences with each service in your specific area.