Argentina - Fixed-Line Market and Infrastructure - Overview, Statistics and Forecasts

Synopsis

Argentina has one of the most solid state-of-the-art telecom infrastructures in Latin America. At 23%, fixed-line teledensity is among the highest in the region. Due to fixed-mobile substitution, however, the number of fixed lines is increasing at a rate that is barely sufficient to keep up with population growth. Two incumbents, Telefónica de Argentina and Telecom Argentina, dominate the local fixed-line market, but a large number of smaller companies – mostly cooperatives – are also operating, especially in rural areas. The long distance market is highly competitive, and VoIP is well developed. Argentina is one of the largest markets for satellite services in South America. Two national satellites are scheduled for launch, in 2012 and 2013. This report provides an overview of Argentina’s telecom infrastructure, together with profiles of the main fixed network operators, accompanied by relevant statistics, analyses, and scenario forecasts for the years 2015 and 2020.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Fixed network operators in Argentina
  • 2.1 Overview of operators
  • 2.2 Telefónica de Argentina (TASA)
  • 2.3 Telecom Argentina
    • 2.3.1 Shareholder disputes and antitrust issues
  • 2.4 Telecom cooperatives
  • 2.5 Claro
  • 2.6 IPLAN
• 3. Telecommunications infrastructure
  • 3.1 National telecom network
    • 3.1.1 Fixed-line statistics
    • 3.1.2 Public payphones
  • 3.2 International infrastructure
    • 3.2.1 Submarine cable networks
    • 3.2.2 Satellite networks
  • 3.3 Infrastructure developments
    • 3.3.1 CDMA 450
    • 3.3.2 IP and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
• 4. Wholesale
• 5. Forecasts – fixed-line market 2010; 2015; 2020
  • 5.1 Scenario 1 – higher fixed-line growth
  • 5.2 Scenario 2 – lower fixed-line growth
  • 5.3 Notes on scenario forecasts
• 6. Related reports

• Table 1 – Fixed lines in service – market share – 2003 - 2011
• Table 2 – TASA fixed lines in service – 2000 - 2011
• Table 3 – Telecom Argentina fixed lines in service – 2000 - 2011
• Table 4 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 1996 - 2011
• Table 5 – Public phones – 1996 - 2011
• Table 6 – TASA wholesale accesses – 2005 - 2010
• Table 7 – Forecast fixed lines – higher growth scenario – 2010; 2015; 2020
• Table 8 – Forecast fixed lines – lower growth scenario – 2010; 2015; 2020

• Chart 1 – Fixed-line market share at a glance – 2011

• Exhibit 1 – Telefónica de Argentina at a glance
• Exhibit 2 – Telecom Argentina at a glance
• Exhibit 3 – Claro at a glance