Somos Internet: revolutionizing fixed internet access in Colombia

In a country where telecom giants like Claro and Movistar dominate, Somos Internet Colombia is emerging as a bold new challenger. Born in the rooftops of Medellín and now expanding into Bogotá, this startup is reshaping the fixed internet market with cutting-edge technology, competitive pricing, and a radically different business model.

From the rooftops of Medellín to Bogotá’s high-rises

When Forrest Heath arrived in Medellín in 2018, he didn’t speak Spanish, had no experience in telecommunications, and lacked a defined business plan. What he did have was a deep obsession with complex systems, and a vision to build something entirely new.

Somos Internet’s first networks were set up on the rooftops of low-income neighborhoods, often without realizing they were negotiating access with local criminal leaders. These early efforts taught the team a crucial lesson: traditional telecom infrastructure wouldn't work. Instead of laying more outdated cable, Heath and his team started from scratch.

By 2024, the company had expanded into Bogotá, investing over $3 million to reach neighborhoods like Chapinero Alto and Chicó Norte, with plans to extend coverage into Cedritos, Suba, Engativá, and Kennedy.

A new kind of network, built for speed and scale

Somos doesn’t offer “old cables with light,” as Heath calls traditional fiber networks. Instead, it operates a distributed data center architecture, connecting directly to data centers via redundant ring networks. This setup provides residential users with enterprise-grade speeds, starting at 800 Mbps for a fraction of the cost.

Unlike legacy networks that fail at a single break point, Somos’ infrastructure is resilient and optimized for uninterrupted high-speed access. Their vertically integrated model, from router design to customer support via WhatsApp, allows them to control performance and costs at every level.

Heavyweight investors and financial firepower

Backing this bold vision is a powerful lineup of investors. Somos Internet has raised over $17 million in equity and $30 million in structured debt, with participation from Y Combinator, Kaszek, Architect, K50 Ventures, Nazca, and Jay-Z’s Arrive. Individual investors include Freddy Vega (Platzi), Matías Muchnick (NotCo), and Pierpaolo Barbieri (Ualá).

This funding fuels their goal to reach 65,000 users by the end of 2025, up from 30,500 active users at the close of 2024.

A startup culture with social impact

Somos Internet isn’t just about fast speeds and low prices, it’s about redefining how a tech company can operate. The company has a horizontal, no-titles culture, with more than 500 employees, including 80 engineers, many of whom returned to Colombia after working for global giants like Amazon.

Their operation is fully in-house, from customer service to technical installations, reinforcing their commitment to quality and accountability. “We’re smart pirates,” Heath says. “I show up in boots, sit on the floor, and talk to everyone.”

Vision for 2025: from Colombia to the world

Already profitable in Medellín and expecting company-wide positive EBITDA by mid-2025, Somos aims to become not just a national ISP but a global technology exporter. The team is working directly with submarine cable operators to improve international connectivity and dreams of becoming a wholesale carrier.

Somos Internet Colombia is more than a startup, it’s a case study in how vision, grit, and innovation can challenge decades of telecom status quo.