Synopsis
Colombia’s telecom infrastructure is reasonably well developed in the main business centres, where service availability is relatively high for Latin America. Facilities are quite poor, however, in small urban centres and rural areas.
The Colombian telecom market has been experiencing intensifying competition, increasing convergence, and the emergence of a rapidly growing broadband sector. A large number of state and private companies operate at the national, regional, and municipal levels.
Estimates for 2012 indicate sustained growth in the mobile broadband, fixed broadband, and satellite TV sectors. The number of fixed-lines will continue to contract. We expect the number of mobile subscribers to increase by 4% only, as many of the wealthier citizens already have two or more mobile phones, while a large percentage of the population cannot afford even one.
Colombia is included in a group of up-and-coming nations touted as hot markets because of their diverse economies, fast-growing populations, and large potential returns. Investors are attracted to these countries because of their growing domestic markets as well as low labour and production costs. Nevertheless, they present challenges such as political instability, crime, and shortage of infrastructure.
This report provides an overview of Colombia’s telecom market and regulatory environment, accompanied by statistical data, analyses, and outlook.
Key developments:
Mobile number portability, launched in mid-2011, has seen more than 300,000 subscribers port their phone number; the regulator has further lowered termination charges for fixed-to-mobile calls; the National Television Authority (ANTV) has taken over from the previous television regulator, the National Television Commission (CNTV).
Companies covered in this report include:
Movistar (Telefónica Telecom/Movistar), Claro (Telmex/Comcel), UNE-EPM, ETB, Emcali, Tigo, Avantel, Uff! Móvil, Metrotel, Virgin Mobile.
