Synopsis
Broadband penetration in Latin America is about 27% below the world average. This slow uptake has been largely due to the high prices charged by providers, which often have a virtual monopoly in their areas of operation. Competition, however, is increasing and prices are dropping. Indeed, Latin America was the world’s fastest-growing broadband market in the fourth quarter of 2008. ADSL is the prevalent technology, followed by cable modem. Mobile broadband, only two years after launch, has managed to attract about 5 million subscribers. WiMAX, on the other hand, after suffering serious setbacks due to licensing delays, has been further knocked back by the global financial crisis. The pay TV market has also been hit by the economic downturn. This report provides an overview of the region’s Internet, broadband, convergence and pay TV markets, accompanied by relevant statistics and analyses.