Argentina - Mobile Market - Overview, Statistics and Forecasts

Synopsis

With penetration rates upward of 120%, Argentina is, together with Uruguay, the leader in South and Central America. And yet the Argentine mobile market continues to grow, as more and more users sign up for multiple mobile accounts. Three operators, Movistar, Claro, and Telecom Personal, run a close competition for market share. All three companies offer 3G services nationwide. Mobile broadband is becoming increasingly popular, driven by the shortage of fixed broadband accesses outside of the main urban centres. Spectrum auctions are expected to take place in the second half of 2010, both to reallocate Movistar’s returned spectrum and to offer licences for 3G and 4G (LTE) services. Accompanied by key market statistics and analyses, this report provides an overview of the market and a brief profile of mobile operators. It also contains scenario forecasts for the years 2015 and 2020.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Overview of Argentina’s mobile market
  • 2.1 Mobile statistics
• 3. Regulatory issues
  • 3.1 Calling Party Pays (CPP)
  • 3.2 Spectrum auctions
• 4. Mobile technologies
  • 4.1 Overview
  • 4.2 Digital
  • 4.3 Third Generation (3G) mobile networks (UMTS)
  • 4.4 Long Term Evolution (LTE)
  • 4.5 Mobile data
  • 4.6 Mobile handsets/smart phones
    • 4.6.1 BlackBerry
    • 4.6.2 iPhone 3G
• 5. Major mobile operators
  • 5.1 Claro (previously CTI Móvil)
  • 5.2 Movistar
  • 5.3 Telecom Personal
  • 5.4 Nextel Argentina
  • 5.5 Fecotel and Fecosur
    • 5.5.1 Nuestro – Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO)
• 6. Mobile voice services
  • 6.1 Prepaid
• 7. Mobile Messaging
  • 7.1 Short Message Service (SMS)
  • 7.2 Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
• 8. Mobile broadband
• 9. Mobile content and applications
  • 9.1 M-Banking
• 10. Mobile satellite
• 11. Forecasts – mobile market 2010; 2015; 2020
  • 11.1 Scenario 1 – higher mobile market growth
  • 11.2 Scenario 2 – lower mobile market growth
  • 11.3 Notes on scenario forecasts
• 12. Related reports

• Table 1 – Mobile subscribers and penetration – 1997 - 2010
• Table 2 – Mobile operators’ market share – 1999 - 2010
• Table 3 – Evolution of mobile ARPU in Argentina – major operators – 2006 - 2009
• Table 4 – 3G subscribers and penetration – 2007 - 2009
• Table 5 – Claro – mobile subscribers – 1999 - 2010
• Table 6 – Movistar – mobile subscribers – 1999 - 2010
• Table 7 – Personal – mobile subscribers – 1999 - 2010
• Table 8 – Nextel – mobile subscribers – 2002 - 2010
• Table 9 – Mobile prepaid/postpaid ratio – 2004 - 2009
• Table 10 – Mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2007 - 2009
• Table 11 – Forecast mobile subscribers – higher growth scenario – 2010; 2015; 2020
• Table 12 – Forecast mobile subscribers – lower growth scenario – 2010; 2015; 2020

• Exhibit 1 – PCS auctions – 1999
• Exhibit 2 – Movicom BellSouth – history
• Exhibit 3 – Telefónica Comunicaciones Personales, trading as Unifón – history