Chile - Mobile Market - Overview and Statistics

Synopsis

Chile has lost its South American leadership in terms of mobile penetration, having been overtaken by Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Paraguay. Nevertheless, Chile’s mobile market remains strong, with an average of nine out of ten people owning a mobile phone. After years of slippage, Chile’s mobile ARPU has started to grow again, partly because of expanding mobile data service, and partly because of growth in postpaid client ratios. Telefónica’s Movistar, Entel PCS, and América Móvil’s Claro are engaged in a lively competition for mobile market share. All three operators have launched 3G networks using their existing spectrum, while arguments rage over the launch of a 3G auction. In this report, we review Chile’s mobile market, we take a look at the country’s mobile operators, and we provide relevant statistics and analyses.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
  
• 2. Mobile communications
  
  • 2.1 Overview of Chile’s mobile market
    
    • 2.1.1 Mobile statistics
      
  • 2.2 Regulatory issues
    
    • 2.2.1 Spectrum auctions (historical review)
      
    • 2.2.2 Spectrum auction – 2006
      
    • 2.2.3 Fixed-to-mobile call charges
      
    • 2.2.4 Mobile Number Portability
      
    • 2.2.5 Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)
      
  • 2.3 Mobile technologies
    
    • 2.3.1 Third Generation (3G) mobile
      
    • 2.3.2 3G spectrum auction
      
  • 2.4 Mobile operators
    
    • 2.4.1 Movistar
      
    • 2.4.2 Entel PCS
      
    • 2.4.3 Claro
      
    • 2.4.4 Nextel Chile
      
    • 2.4.5 Vodafone’s Partner Market
      
  • 2.5 Mobile voice services
    
    • 2.5.1 Prepaid cards
      
    • 2.5.2 Satellite mobile
      
  • 2.6 Mobile data services
    
    • 2.6.1 Short Message Service (SMS)
      
    • 2.6.2 Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
      
    • 2.6.3 Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
      
    • 2.6.4 Mobile TV
      
  • 2.7 Mobile content and applications
    
    • 2.7.1 Location-Based Services (LBS)
      
  • 2.8 Mobile marketing
    
• 3. Related reports
  

• Table 1 – Mobile subscribers and annual change by operator and technology – September 2008
• Table 2 – Mobile subscribers, annual change and penetration rate – 1999 - 2008
• Table 3 – Operator market share – 1999 - 2008
• Table 4 – Evolution of ARPU in Chile – mobile operators – 2005 - 2007
• Table 5 – Movistar – mobile subscribers and annual change – 1999 - 2008
• Table 6 – Entel PCS – mobile subscribers – 1999 - 2008
• Table 7 – Claro – mobile subscribers – 1999 - 2008
• Table 8 – Mobile prepaid/postpaid ratio – 1999 - 2008

• Exhibit 1 – Mobile concessions and original shareholders – 1989
• Exhibit 2 – Telefónica Móvil Chile – history
• Exhibit 3 – BellSouth Chile – history
• Exhibit 4 – Claro/Smartcom/Chilesat – history