Latin America - Mobile Communications Statistics (tables only)

Publication Overview

This report provides 186 statistical tables for the mobile communications and mobile data activities, both on a regional and national level, for the major 26 South American and Caribbean countries

Researcher:- Lucia Bibolini, Lawrence Baker

Current publication date:- May 2009 (8^th Edition)

Next publication date:- August 2010

Executive Summary

Mobile penetration in Latin America and the Caribbean was approximately 80% in early 2009, well above the world average which was about 58%. With 458 million people owning a mobile phone in early 2009, Latin America and the Caribbean together hold approximately 12% of the world’s 3.97 billion mobile subscribers. Several countries, including Argentina, Jamaica, Uruguay, and Venezuela have passed the 100% penetration threshold. The region is becoming fertile soil for 3G W-CDMA services, following substantial increases in coverage and in subscriber numbers during 2008. In early 2009, there were about 5 million 3G subscribers throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

There are vast differences in mobile development throughout the region. Apart from some first-world Caribbean island nations, the highest mobile penetration rates in early 2009 could be found in Jamaica (115%), Argentina (110%), Uruguay (109%), and Venezuela (101%). By contrast, penetration was much lower in Bolivia (48%), Costa Rica (48%), and Nicaragua (52%). Cuba, the country with the region’s lowest mobile penetration, stagnated at 2.9%. Penetration in Haiti, the second lowest country, shot up from a 4.8% at end-2005 to 41% at end-2008 thanks to the launch of low-priced GSM services by Caribbean mobile giant Digicel, which entered the Haitian market in May 2006.

Data in this report is the latest available at the time of preparation and may not be for the current year.

Notes on scenario forecasts

Throughout the report, BuddeComm provides a number of scenario forecasts. The following notes provide some background to our scenario forecasting methodology:

·         This report includes what we term scenario forecasts. By describing long-range scenarios we identify a band within which we expect market growth to occur. The associated text describes what we see as the most likely growth trend within this band.

·         The projections shown in the tables in this report are based on our own historical information, as well as on telecommunication sector statistics from official and non-official, national and international sources. We assume a possible deviation of 15-20% around this data.

·         All statistics for GDP, revenue, etc are shown in US$, in order to maintain consistency within and between markets. At the same time we acknowledge that this can introduce some irregularities.

Table of Contents

• 1. Regional Overview
  • 1.1 Subscribers
  • 1.2 Country comparisons
  • 1.3 Operator statistics
  • 1.4 ARPU
• 2. Argentina
  • 2.1 Subscribers
  • 2.2 Operator statistics
• 3. Belize
• 4. Bolivia
• 5. Brazil
  • 5.1 Subscribers
  • 5.2 Operator statistics
• 6. Caribbean Small Island Nations
• 7. Chile
  • 7.1 Subscribers
  • 7.2 Operator statistics
• 8. Colombia
  • 8.1 Subscribers
  • 8.2 Operator statistics
• 9. Costa Rica
• 10. Cuba
• 11. Dominican Republic
  • 11.1 Operator statistics
• 12. Ecuador
  • 12.1 Subscribers
  • 12.2 Operator statistics
• 13. El Salvador
  • 13.1 Subscribers
  • 13.2 Operator statistics
• 14. Guatemala
  • 14.1 Subscribers
  • 14.2 Operator statistics
• 15. Guyana
  • 15.1 Subscribers
  • 15.2 Operator statistics
• 16. Haiti
• 17. Honduras
  • 17.1 Subscribers
  • 17.2 Operator statistics
• 18. Jamaica
• 19. Mexico
  • 19.1 Subscribers
  • 19.2 Operator statistics
• 20. Nicaragua
  • 20.1 Subscribers
  • 20.2 Operator statistics
• 21. Panama
  • 21.1 Subscribers
  • 21.2 Operator statistics
• 22. Paraguay
• 23. Peru
  • 23.1 Subscribers
  • 23.2 Operator statistics
  • 23.3 Mobile data
• 24. Puerto Rico
  • 24.1 Subscribers
  • 24.2 Operator statistics
• 25. Suriname
• 26. Uruguay
  • 26.1 Operator statistics
• 27. Venezuela
  • 27.1 Subscribers
  • 27.2 Operator statistics
  • 27.3 Mobile data
  • Table 1 – Latin America – mobile subscribers and penetration - 1998 - 2008
  • Table 2 – Latin America - market share by mobile technology - 2003 - 2008
  • Table 3 – Latin America - top 10 countries for mobile subscribers – 2007 - 2008
  • Table 4 – Latin America - countries ranked by penetration – 2008
  • Table 5 – Latin America - countries ranked by net additions, and annual growth – 2008
  • Table 6 – Latin America – 3G subscribers and penetration per country - 2007 - 2008
  • Table 7 – Latin America - top 10 local mobile operators ranked by subscriber numbers - 2008
  • Table 8 – Latin America - major international operators – subscribers, market share – 2007 - 2008
  • Table 9 – América Móvil – mobile subscribers and technology by country– 2007 - 2008
  • Table 10 – América Móvil – mobile ARPU by country – 2006 - 2008
  • Table 11 – América Móvil – MOU by country – 2006 - 2008
  • Table 12 – América Móvil – churn by country – 2006 - 2008
  • Table 13 – Telefónica – mobile subscribers and technology by country – 2007 - 2008
  • Table 14 – Telefónica – mobile ARPU by country – 2006 - 2008
  • Table 15 – Telefónica – MOU by country – 2007 - 2008
  • Table 16 – Telecom Italia – mobile subscribers and technology by country – 2007 - 2008
  • Table 17 – Millicom – mobile subscribers and technology by country – 2007 - 2008
  • Table 18 – Latin America - ARPU for major countries – 2006 - 2008
  • Table 19 – ARPU in Argentina – major operators – 2006 - 2008
  • Table 20 – ARPU in Brazil – major operators – 2006 - 2008
  • Table 21 – ARPU in Chile – major operators – 2006 - 2008
  • Table 22 – ARPU in Colombia – major operators – 2006 - 2008
  • Table 23 – ARPU in Mexico – major operators – 2006 - 2008
  • Table 24 – ARPU in Peru – major operators – 2006 - 2008
  • Table 25 – ARPU in Venezuela – major operators – 2006 - 2008
  • Table 26 – Argentina - mobile key statistics – 2008
  • Table 27 – Argentina - mobile subscribers and penetration - 1997 - 2008
  • Table 28 – Argentina - mobile subscribers by operator and technology – September 2008
  • Table 29 – Argentina - forecast mobile subscriber growth – 2008; 2013; 2018
  • Table 30 – Argentina - mobile prepaid/postpaid ratio - 1999 - 2008
  • Table 31 – Argentina - mobile operators’ market share - 1999 - 2008
  • Table 32 – Claro – mobile subscribers – 1999 - 2008
  • Table 33 – Movistar – mobile subscribers – 1999 - 2008
  • Table 34 – Telecom Personal – mobile subscribers – 1999 - 2008
  • Table 35 – Nextel Argentina – mobile subscribers – 2002 - 2008
  • Table 36 – Argentina - mobile ARPU in Argentina – major operators – 2006 - 2008
  • Table 37 – Belize – mobile key statistics – 2008
  • Table 38 – Belize – mobile subscribers and penetration rate - 1998 - 2008
  • Table 39 – Belize – mobile market share by operator - 2005 - 2008
  • Table 40 – BTL mobile subscribers - 2001 - 2008
  • Table 41 – Bolivia – mobile key statistics – 2008
  • Table 42 – Bolivia – mobile subscribers and penetration rate - 1997 - 2008
  • Table 43 – Bolivia – mobile subscribers by operator and technology – 2008
  • Table 44 – Bolivia – mobile market share by operator - 2003 - 2008
  • Table 45 – Bolivia - mobile key statistics – September 2008
  • Table 46 – Brazil - mobile subscribers and penetration rate - 1997 - 2008
  • Table 47 – Brazil - mobile operators and subscribers – June 2008
  • Table 48 – Brazil - mobile subscribers by technology – 2002 - 2008
  • Table 49 – Brazil - market share by technology – 2002 - 2008
  • Table 50 – Brazil - market share annual change by technology – 2003 - 2008
  • Table 51 – Brazil - prepaid subscribers and prepaid market share – 2002 - 2008
  • Table 52 – Brazil - band A, B, D, and E subscribers – 2000 - 2008
  • Table 53 – Brazil - forecast mobile subscribers – 2008 - 2018
  • Table 54 – Brazil - operator’s market share – 2003 - 2008
  • Table 55 – Brazil - evolution of ARPU – major operators – 2005 - 2007
  • Table 56 – Brazil - mobile subscribers by major operator – 2002 - 2008
  • Table 57 – Brazil - mobile subscribers by minor operator – 2002 - 2008
  • Table 58 – Caribbean countries - mobile subscribers and penetration, - 2008
  • Table 59 – Chile – mobile key statistics – September 2008
  • Table 60 – Chile – mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 1999 - 2008
  • Table 61 – Chile – mobile subscribers & technologies by operator – September 2008
  • Table 62 – Chile – mobile prepaid/postpaid ratio – 1999 - 2008
  • Table 63 – Chile – forecast mobile subscribers & penetration rate – 2008 - 2018
  • Table 64 – Chile – operator market share – 1999 - 2008
  • Table 65 – Chile – ARPU in Chile – mobile operators – 2005 - 2007
  • Table 66 – Movistar mobile subscribers – 1999 - 2008
  • Table 67 – Entel PCS mobile subscribers – 1999 - 2008
  • Table 68 – Claro mobile subscribers – 1999 - 2008
  • Table 69 – Columbia - mobile key statistics – September 2008
  • Table 70 – Columbia - mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 1997 - 2008
  • Table 71 – Columbia - mobile operators and subscribers - September 2008
  • Table 72 – Columbia - mobile prepaid/postpaid ratio - 2005 - 2008
  • Table 73 – Columbia - forecast mobile subscribers and penetration – 2008; 2013; 2018
  • Table 74 – Columbia - mobile market share by operator – 2002 - 2008
  • Table 75 – Columbia - ARPU by mobile operators – 2005 - 2007
  • Table 76 – Columbia – mobile subscribers by operator – 2000 - 2008
  • Table 77 – Costa Rica – mobile key statistics – 2008
  • Table 78 – Costa Rica – mobile subscribers and penetration - 1998 - 2008
  • Table 79 – Costa Rica – mobile subscribers by operator and technology – 2008
  • Table 80 – Cuba – mobile key statistics – 2008
  • Table 81 – Cuba – mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 1996 - 2008
  • Table 82 – Dominican Republic – mobile statistics – September 2008
  • Table 83 – Dominican Republic – mobile subscribers and penetration - 1997 - 2008
  • Table 84 – Dominican Republic – mobile operators, technology and subscribers – 2008
  • Table 85 – Dominican Republic – postpaid/prepaid ratio - 2001 - 2008
  • Table 86 – Dominican Republic – forecast mobile subscribers – 2009 - 2013
  • Table 87 – Dominican Republic – mobile operator market share - 2003 - 2008
  • Table 88 – Claro mobile subscribers – 1998 - 2008
  • Table 89 – Ecuador – mobile key statistics – 2008
  • Table 90 – Ecuador – mobile subscribers and penetration - 1996 - 2008
  • Table 91 – Ecuador – mobile subscribers by operator and technology – 2008
  • Table 92 – Ecuador – prepaid subscriber ratio by operator – 2002 - 2008
  • Table 93 – Ecuador – mobile operators’ market share – 1996 - 2008
  • Table 94 – Ecuador – ARPU by operator – 2006 - 2008
  • Table 95 – Ecuador – mobile subscribers by operator – 1996 - 2008
  • Table 96 – El Salvador – mobile key statistics – 2008
  • Table 97 – El Salvador – mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 1998 - 2008
  • Table 98 – El Salvador – mobile subscribers by operator and technology – 2008
  • Table 99 – El Salvador – prepaid/postpaid ratio - 2002 - 2008
  • Table 100 – El Salvador – mobile operators’ market share – 2002 - 2008
  • Table 101 – El Salvador - mobile subscribers by operator – 1996 - 2008
  • Table 102 – Guatemala – mobile key statistics – 2008
  • Table 103 – Guatemala – mobile subscribers and penetration rate - 1997 - 2008
  • Table 104 – Guatemala – mobile subscribers by operator and technology - 2008
  • Table 105 – Guatemala – mobile prepaid/postpaid ratio - 2002 - 2008
  • Table 106 – Guatemala – market share by mobile operator - 2000 - 2008
  • Table 107 – Guatemala – mobile subscribers by operator – 2000 - 2008
  • Table 108 – Guyana – mobile key statistics – September 2008
  • Table 109 – Guyana – mobile subscribers and penetration rate - 1998 - 2008
  • Table 110 – Guyana – mobile market share by operator - 2003 - 2008
  • Table 111 – Guyana - mobile subscribers by operator - 2003 - 2008
  • Table 112 – Haiti – mobile key statistics – 2008
  • Table 113 – Haiti – mobile subscribers and penetration rate - 1998 - 2008
  • Table 114 – Honduras – mobile key statistics – 2008
  • Table 115 – Honduras – mobile subscribers and penetration rate - 1997 - 2008
  • Table 116 – Honduras – mobile subscribers by operator and technology - 2008
  • Table 117 – Honduras – mobile prepaid/postpaid ratio - 1997 - 2007
  • Table 118 – Honduras – mobile operators’ market share - 2002 - 2008
  • Table 119 – Honduras –– mobile subscribers by operator - 2000 - 2008
  • Table 120 – Jamaica – mobile key statistics – 2008
  • Table 121 – Jamaica – mobile subscribers and penetration rate - 1997 - 2008
  • Table 122 – Jamaica – mobile operators, technology and subscribers – September 2008
  • Table 123 – Jamaica – mobile market share by operator - 2003 - 2008
  • Table 124 – Mexico – mobile key statistics – 2008
  • Table 125 – Mexico – mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 1996 - 2008
  • Table 126 – Mexico – mobile operators and subscribers – September 2008
  • Table 127 – Mexico – mobile penetration by region - 2002 - 2006
  • Table 128 – Mexico – prepaid/postpaid subscribers – 1997 - 2008
  • Table 129 – Mexico – monthly and yearly minutes of use – 2000 - 2007
  • Table 130 – Mexico – forecast mobile subscribers – 2010; 2015
  • Table 131 – Mexico – mobile market share by major operator – 2001 - 2008
  • Table 132 – Mexico – mobile subscribers by operator – 1998 - 2008
  • Table 133 – Telcel churn, monthly minutes of use and ARPU – 2007 - 2008
  • Table 134 – Movistar churn, minutes of use and ARPU – 2006 - 2008
  • Table 135 – Nextel Mexico churn and monthly ARPU – 2007 - 2008
  • Table 136 – Nicaragua – mobile key statistics – 2008
  • Table 137 – Nicaragua – mobile subscribers and penetration rate - 2000 - 2008
  • Table 138 – Nicaragua – mobile subscribers by operator and technology - 2008
  • Table 139 – Nicaragua – mobile prepaid/postpaid ratio - 2003 - 2008
  • Table 140 – Nicaragua – mobile market share by operator - 2002 - 2008
  • Table 141 – Nicaragua - mobile subscribers by operator - 2000 - 2008
  • Table 142 – Panama – mobile key statistics – 2008
  • Table 143 – Panama – mobile subscribers and penetration rate - 1998 - 2008
  • Table 144 – Panama – mobile subscribers by operator and technology – 2008
  • Table 145 – Panama – mobile prepaid/postpaid ratio - 1998 - 2007
  • Table 146 – Panama – forecast mobile subscribers – 2008; 2013; 2018
  • Table 147 – Panama – operators’ mobile market share - 2003 - 2008
  • Table 148 – Paraguay – mobile key statistics – 2008
  • Table 149 – Paraguay – mobile subscribers and penetration rate - 1998 - 2008
  • Table 150 – Paraguay – mobile subscribers by operator and technology - 2008
  • Table 151 – Paraguay – mobile operators’ market share - 2003 - 2008
  • Table 152 – Peru – mobile key statistics – September 2008
  • Table 153 – Peru – mobile subscribers and penetration - 1997 - 2008
  • Table 154 – Peru – mobile subscribers by operator and technology – September 2008
  • Table 155 – Peru – mobile market share by technology – 2004 - 2008
  • Table 156 – Peru – mobile prepaid/postpaid ratio - 2001 - 2008
  • Table 157 – Peru – forecast mobile subscriber growth – 2008; 2013; 2018
  • Table 158 – Peru – mobile market share by operator – 1996 - 2008
  • Table 159 – Movistar’s mobile subscribers – 2001 - 2008
  • Table 160 – Claro’s mobile subscribers - 2001 - 2008
  • Table 161 – Nextel’s mobile subscribers - 2001 - 2008
  • Table 162 – Peru – ARPU for mobile operators – 2005 - 2007
  • Table 163 – Peru - SMS by operator – 2004 - 2007
  • Table 164 – Peru - MMS by operator – 2004 - 2007
  • Table 165 – Puerto Rico – mobile key statistics – 2008
  • Table 166 – Puerto Rico – mobile subscribers and penetration – 1997 - 2008
  • Table 167 – Puerto Rico – mobile operators, technology and subscribers – 2008
  • Table 168 – Puerto Rico – forecast mobile subscriber growth – 2008; 2012; 2018
  • Table 169 – Puerto Rico – mobile market share by operator – 2003 - 2008
  • Table 170 – Suriname – mobile key statistics – 2008
  • Table 171 – Suriname – mobile subscribers and penetration rate - 1997 - 2008
  • Table 172 – Uruguay – mobile key statistics – 2008
  • Table 173 – Uruguay – mobile subscribers and penetration rate - 1997 - 2008
  • Table 174 – Uruguay – mobile subscribers by operator and technology – 2008
  • Table 175 – Uruguay - mobile subscribers by operator - 1999 - 2008
  • Table 176 – Uruguay – market share by mobile operators - 2000 - 2008
  • Table 177 – Venezuela – mobile key statistics – September 2008
  • Table 178 – Venezuela – mobile subscribers and penetration rate - 1997 - 2008
  • Table 179 – Venezuela – subscribers by operator and technology – September 2008
  • Table 180 – Venezuela – market share of mobile market by technology – 2004 - 2008
  • Table 181 – Venezuela – mobile prepaid/postpaid ratio - 1997 - 2008
  • Table 182 – Venezuela – forecast mobile subscribers – 2008; 2013; 2018
  • Table 183 – Venezuela – market share by mobile operator – 2001 - 2008
  • Table 184 – Venezuela - mobile subscribers by operator - 2000 - 2008
  • Table 185 – Venezuela – ARPU for various mobile operators – 2005 - 2007
  • Table 186 – Venezuela – SMS messages sent - 2002 - 2008