Puerto Rico - Telecoms, Mobile, Broadband & Forecasts

Executive summary

Puerto Rico has some of the highest rates of teledensity, mobile penetration and Internet usage in Latin America. However, despite being a US territory, Puerto Rico lags well behind the USA in terms of fixed-line and broadband penetration. This is partly because local fixed-line telephony has stagnated in a market largely dominated by the incumbent Puerto Rico Telephone Company (PRTC).

That dominance is unlikely to change in the short term as the PRTC was acquired by the largest wireless company in Latin America, Mexico’s América Móvil. In contrast, with six network operators, the mobile (cellular/wireless) market has been experiencing robust competition and growth.

During 2008 Claro (América Móvil) took the lead from AT&T Mobility in terms of subscriber numbers, although AT&T may regain it in late 2009 if the FCC approves its acquisition of Centennial. In addition, with an emerging VoIP sector, a growing broadband market, and a healthy cable and satellite TV sector, the growth and convergence of digital media looks promising.

1. Executive summary
2. Key statistics
3. Telecommunications market
- 3.1 Overview of Puerto Rico’s telecom market
4. Regulatory environment
- 4.1 Regulatory authority
  - 4.1.1 Junta Reglamentadora de Telecomunicaciones (JRT)
- 4.2 Telecom sector liberalisation
- 4.3 Privatisation of PRTC
- 4.4 Universal service fund
- 4.5 Number portability
5. Fixed network operators
- 5.1 Overview of operators
- 5.2 Puerto Rico Telephone Company (PRTC/TELPRI)
- 5.3 Centennial de Puerto Rico (CPR)
- 5.4 Telefónica Larga Distancia de Puerto Rico (TLD)
6. Telecommunications infrastructure
- 6.1 National telecom networks
- 6.2 International infrastructure
  - 6.2.1 Submarine cable networks
  - 6.2.2 Satellite networks
- 6.3 IP networks and VoIP
7. Internet market
- 7.1 Overview
  - 7.1.1 Internet statistics
8. Broadband market
- 8.1 Overview
- 8.2 Cable modems
- 8.3 Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
- 8.4 Wireless broadband
9. Digital Media
- 9.1 Overview
- 9.2 Digital TV
  - 9.2.1 Cable TV (CATV)
  - 9.2.2 Satellite TV
  - 9.2.3 Free-to-Air (FTA) TV
10. Mobile market
- 10.1 Overview of Puerto Rico’s mobile market
  - 10.1.1 Mobile statistics
- 10.2 Mobile technologies
- 10.3 Major mobile operators
  - 10.3.1 AT&T Mobility (formerly Cingular Wireless Puerto Rico)
  - 10.3.2 Centennial de Puerto Rico (CPR)
  - 10.3.3 Claro (América Móvil)
  - 10.3.4 Open Mobile (formerly Movistar Puerto Rico)
  - 10.3.5 T-Mobile (formerly SunCom Puerto Rico)
  - 10.3.6 Sprint PCS
11. Forecasts
- 11.1 Forecasts – Mobile services – 2010; 2015
12. Related reports

Table 1 – Country statistics Puerto Rico – 2009
Table 2 – Fixed-line network statistics – 2009
Table 3 – Internet user statistics – 2009
Table 4 – Broadband statistics – 2008
Table 5 – Mobile statistics – 2009
Table 6 – National telecommunications authorities
Table 7 – PRTC residential/corporate fixed-lines in service and annual change - 1998 - 2009
Table 8 – CPR switched access lines - 2006 - 2009
Table 9 – Fixed lines in service, annual change and teledensity - 2000 - 2009
Table 10 – Internet users and user penetration rate - 2000 - 2009
Table 11 – Broadband lines and annual change - 2002 - 2008
Table 12 – PRTC DSL lines - 2002 - 2008
Table 13 – Cable TV subscribers - 2001 - 2008
Table 14 – Mobile operators, technology and subscribers – 2008
Table 15 – Mobile subscribers, annual change and penetration rate – 2000 - 2009
Table 16 – Mobile market share by operator – 2003 - 2008
Table 17 – Forecast mobile subscribers – lower growth scenario – 2010; 2015
Table 18 – Forecast mobile subscribers – higher growth scenario – 2010; 2015