2019 Argentina - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Last updated: 22 Apr 2020 Update History

Report Status: Archived

Report Pages: 182

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Publication Overview

This report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Argentina’s telecommunications market. The report analyses the fixed-line, mobile and broadband sectors. Subjects include:

Market and industry analyses, trends and developments;
Facts, figures and statistics;
Industry and regulatory issues;
Infrastructure developments;
Major Players, Revenues, Subscribers, ARPU, MoU;
Mobile Voice and Data Markets;
Broadband (FttP, DSL, cable, wireless);
Mobile subscribers and ARPU;
Broadband market forecasts;
Government policies affecting the telecoms industry;
Market liberalisation and industry issues;
Telecoms operators – privatisation, IPOs, acquisitions, new licences;
Mobile technologies (GSM; 3G, HSPA, LTE, 5G).

Researcher:- Henry Lancaster
Current publication date:- January 2020 (18th Edition)

Executive Summary

Telefónica Argentina considers exiting the market

Argentina has an advanced telecom infrastructure though considerable investment is still required to update services in rural areas. To meet pent up demand for telecom services the government has embarked on a large-scale National Broadband Plan. By late 2019 the ARS4.53 billion program to extend broadband services to rural communities, managed by the state-owned infrastructure operator ARSAT, was mostly complete.

Although there are numerous operators licensed to provide services, there remains insufficient competition. The provision of both broadband and mobile services is dominated by a few key players, including Movistar, Telecom Argentina and Claro. The broadband sector is dominated by Movistar and Telecom Argentina.

Argentina has one of the most dynamic mobile markets in Latin America and is the third largest in the region after Brazil and Mexico. Mobile penetration has fallen in recent years in line with a reduction in the number of subscribers following a long period of steady annual growth. This is partly due to pricing competition among operators which has reduced the incentive for multiple-SIM card ownership. The regulator has encouraged the market entry of additional MVNOs to increase competition. Market changes are anticipated in 2020 if Telefónica Group completes its plan to sell its business unit in Argentina, as part of a wider effort to exit Latin America though retaining its interests in Brazil.

Operators have trialled 5G though given the continued capacity of LTE infrastructure it is unlikely that commercial 5G services will be available before 2021.

Argentina also has one of the highest broadband penetration rates in Latin America, supported by investment among operators as well as a number of government programs aimed at extending the reach of services. Although the country’s economic and political difficulties during the last decade have impacted on sector investments there have been steady improvements in recent quarters, with a considerable proportion of investment being earmarked for expanding fibre networks beyond areas of the principal cities.

This report provides an overview of Argentina’s telecom market and regulatory environment, including statistical data and analyses on recent market developments. The report also reviews the fixed and fixed-wireless broadband markets and as well as the mobile voice and data segments, with profiles of the major operators and analyses on technologies deployed and market dynamics. The report in addition provides a number of subscriber forecasts to 2024.

BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.

On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.

Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.

The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.

Key developments:

Telefónica Group looks to sell Latin American operations excepting Brazil;
Federal Fibre-Optic Network aiming to connect 2,600 localities across the country;
Movistar Argentina begins deploying LTE-M and NB-IoT technologies;
Mercosur bloc countries end mobile roaming charges;
Government provides €20 million for two 5G trials;
Movistar, Claro and Telecom Personal awarded 15-year licences in the 2.5GHz band;
Telecom Argentina scales down investment in response to macro-economic difficulties;
Report update includes the regulator's market data to September 2019, telcos' operating and financial data to Q3 2019, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments.
Assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Movistar (Telefónica de Argentina), Telecom Argentina, Grupo Clarín, Claro (Telmex Argentina), Telecom Personal, Nextel Argentina, DirecTV, IPLAN, IP-TEL, Fecotel, Fecosur, COTEL, Cotecal, ARSAT, INVAP, Nuestro Móvil, Libre.ar, Virgin Mobile, Tesacom, Cablevisión, VeloCom, Netizen, Phonevision/Omnivision, Telpin, Supercanal, Telecentro, Red Intercable, MercadoLibre.

Henry Lancaster
January 2020

Key statistics
COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Economic considerations and responses
Mobile devices
Subscribers
Infrastructure

Telecommunications market

Historical overview
Market analysis
Country overview
Regional Latin America Market Comparison

Telecom Maturity Index by tier
TMI versus GDP
Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
Fixed and mobile broadband penetration

Regulatory environment

Regulatory authority

Ente Nacional de Comunicaciones (ENACOM)

Argentina Digital Act

Interconnect

Number Portability (NP)
Single licence

Fixed network operators

Overview of operators
Telefónica de Argentina (Movistar)
Telecom Argentina
Telecom cooperatives
Telmex Argentina
IPLAN

Telecommunications infrastructure

Overview of the national telecom network

Fixed-line statistics

International infrastructure

Submarine cable networks
Satellite networks

Wholesale

Broadband market

Introduction and statistical overview

Market analysis
Broadband statistics
National Broadband Plan

Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks

Cablevisión (FiberTel)

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks

Movistar (Telefónica Argentina/Speedy)
Telecom Argentina (Arnet)

Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
Other fixed broadband services

Wireless broadband
Satellite broadband

Digital economy

E-government
E-education
E-commerce

Overview of e-commerce in Argentina
MercadoLibre

Online banking

Mobile communications

Market analysis
Mobile statistics

General statistics
Mobile data
Mobile broadband

Regulatory issues

Spectrum auctions
Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
Calling Party Pays (CCP)
Roaming
SIM card registration

Mobile infrastructure

5G
4G (LTE)
3G
Other infrastructure developments

Major mobile operators

Claro (previously CTI Móvil)
Telecom Personal
Movistar
Nextel Argentina
Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)

Appendix – Historic data
Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Argentina – 2019 (e)
Table 2 – Telecom revenue by segment (ARS) – 2013 – 2019
Table 3 – Telecom sector ARPU by segment (ARS) – 2013 – 2019
Table 4 – Investment by sector (ARS) – 2013 – 2019
Table 5 – Evolution of GDP in Argentina – 2010 – 2019
Table 6 – Decline in the number of Telefónica de Argentina’s fixed lines in service – 2009 – 2019
Table 7 – Development of Telefónica de Argentina’s financial data – 2014 – 2019
Table 8 – Development of Telefónica de Argentina’s annualised fixed ARPU – 2017 – 2019
Table 9 – Development of Telecom Argentina’s financial data – 2011 – 2019
Table 10 – Growth in Telecom Argentina’s domestic revenue by service – 2011 – 2019
Table 11 – Telecom Argentina capex and EBITDA – 2017 – 2019
Table 12 – Change in the number of Telecom Argentina’s fixed lines in service – 2009 – 2019
Table 13 – Growth in the number of Telmex’s fixed-line subscriptions – 2013 – 2019
Table 14 – Development of Telmex’s fixed-line financial data – 2013 – 2019
Table 15 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2009 – 2024
Table 16 – Decline in fixed-line household teledensity – 2013 – 2019
Table 17 – Growth in international internet bandwidth – 2010 – 2017
Table 18 – Change in broadband market share by technology – 2016 – 2019
Table 19 – Growth in the number of fixed-line internet subscribers and penetration rates – 2010 – 2019
Table 20 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration rates – 2009 – 2024
Table 21 – Decline in the number of dial-up subscriptions – 2008 – 2019
Table 22 – Growth in fixed internet services revenue – 2013 – 2019
Table 23 – Fixed internet services ARPU – 2013 – 2019
Table 24 – Change in the number of fixed broadband connections by access speed – 2017 – 2019
Table 25 – Average fixed internet access speed – 2015 – 2019
Table 26 – Growth in the number of cable broadband subscribers and penetration – 2009 – 2019
Table 27 – Change in the number of DSL subscribers and penetration rate – 2009 – 2019
Table 28 – Change in the number of Movistar’s broadband subscribers – 2009 – 2019
Table 29 – Growth in the number of Telecom Argentina’s broadband subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Table 30 – Change in Telecom Argentina’s broadband ARPU – 2011 – 2019
Table 31 – Growth in the number of Movistar’s FttX broadband subscribers – 2016 – 2019
Table 32 – Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2019
Table 33 – Growth in the number of fixed wireless broadband connections – 2010 – 2019
Table 34 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2009 – 2024
Table 35 – Mobile subscriber annual change – 2009 – 2019
Table 36 – Change in mobile operators’ market share – 2010 – 2019
Table 37 – Change in the ratio of mobile prepaid/postpaid subscribers – 2013 – 2019
Table 38 – Change in the number of prepaid and postpaid mobile subscribers – 2013 – 2019
Table 39 – Growth in mobile market revenue and investment – 2013 – 2019
Table 40 – Mobile annualised ARPU – 2013 – 2019
Table 41 – Growth in mobile voice traffic – 2013 – 2019
Table 42 – Decline in SMS traffic – 2007 – 2019
Table 43 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration rate – 2009 – 2024
Table 44 – Change in annual mobile numbers ported – 2012 – 2019
Table 45 – Growth in the number of Movistar’s LTE subscribers and penetration – 2016 – 2019
Table 46 – Increase in the number of LTE base stations in service – 2015 – 2019
Table 47 – Growth in the number of Claro’s mobile subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Table 48 – Growth in Claro’s wireless revenue – 2012 – 2019
Table 49 – Change in Telecom Personal’s mobile subscribers and annual change – 2009 – 2019
Table 50 – Change in the number of Telecom Personal’s prepaid, contract, mobile broadband subscribers – 2013 – 2019
Table 51 – Change in telecom Personal’s mobile ARPU – 2012 – 2019
Table 52 – Development of Telecom Personal’s mobile service revenue – 2012 – 2019
Table 53 – Personal – mobile data and voice usage per month– 2013 – 2018
Table 54 – Change in the number of Movistar’s mobile subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Table 55 – Development of Movistar’s mobile revenue – 2009 – 2019
Table 56 – Decline in Movistar’s blended mobile ARPU – 2008 – 2019
Table 57 – Historic - Evolution of GDP in Argentina – 2000 – 2009
Table 58 – Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 1996 – 2009
Table 59 – Historic - Telecom Argentina fixed lines in service – 2000 – 2009
Table 60 – Historic - Telefónica de Argentina fixed lines in service – 2000 – 2009
Table 61 – Historic - International bandwidth – 2000 – 2009
Table 62 – Historic - Movistar wholesale accesses – 2005 – 2017
Table 63 – Historic - Internet users and user penetration – 1996 – 2015
Table 64 – Historic - Fixed-line internet subscribers and penetration rates – 2000 – 2009
Table 65 – Historic - DSL subscribers and penetration rates – 2001 – 2009
Table 66 – Historic - Cable modem subscribers and penetration rates – 2001 – 2009
Table 67 – Historic - Fixed-line internet subscribers and penetration rates – 2000 – 2009
Table 68 – Historic - Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration rates – 2001 – 2009
Table 69 – Historic - Movistar broadband subscribers – 2001 – 2009
Table 70 – Historic - Broadband market share by provider – 2003 – 2014
Table 71 – Historic - FiberTel broadband subscribers – 2003 – 2016
Table 72 – Historic - DSL subscribers and penetration rate – 2001 – 2009
Table 73 – Historic - Telecom Argentina – broadband subscribers – 2003 – 2009
Table 74 – Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration – 1998 – 2009
Table 75 – Historic - Nextel mobile revenue – 2012 – 2015
Table 76 – Historic - Nextel mobile ARPU – 2012 – 2015
Table 77 – Historic - Mobile operators’ market share – 1999 – 2009
Table 78 – Historic - Nextel – mobile subscribers – 2002 – 2015
Table 79 – Historic - Telecom Personal mobile subscribers, annual change – 1999 – 2009
Table 80 – Historic - Movistar – mobile subscribers – 1999 – 2009
Table 81 – Historic - Claro – mobile subscribers – 1999 – 2009

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Telecom revenue by segment (ARS) – 2013 – 2019
Chart 2 – Telecom ARPU by segment (ARS) – 2013 – 2019
Chart 3 – Telecom investment by segment (ARS) – 2013 – 2018
Chart 4 – Latin America –Overall Telecoms Maturity Index
Chart 5 – Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Leaders Category
Chart 6 – Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Challengers Category
Chart 7 – Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Laggards Category
Chart 8 – South America –Telecoms Maturity Index by country
Chart 9 – Central America –Telecoms Maturity Index by country
Chart 10 – Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita
Chart 11 – South America mobile subscriber penetration versus mobile broadband penetration
Chart 12 – Latin America fixed broadband penetration versus mobile broadband penetration
Chart 13 – Decline in the number of Telefónica de Argentina’s fixed lines in service – 2009 – 2019
Chart 14 – Development of Telefónica de Argentina’s financial data – 2014 – 2019
Chart 15 – Development of Telecom Argentina’s financial data – 2011 – 2019
Chart 16 – Growth in Telecom Argentina’s domestic revenue by service – 2011 – 2019
Chart 17 – Change in the number of Telecom Argentina’s fixed lines in service – 2009 – 2019
Chart 18 – Growth in the number of Telmex’s fixed-line subscriptions – 2013 – 2019
Chart 19 – Development of Telmex’s fixed-line financial data – 2013 – 2019
Chart 20 – Evolution of fixed lines in Argentina – 2009 – 2024
Chart 21 – Decline in fixed-line household teledensity – 2013 – 2019
Chart 22 – Change in broadband market share by technology – 2016 – 2019
Chart 23 – Growth in the number of fixed-line internet subscribers and penetration rates – 2010 – 2019
Chart 24 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration rates – 2009 – 2024
Chart 25 – Growth in fixed internet services revenue – 2013 – 2019
Chart 26 – Change in the number of fixed broadband connections by access speed – 2017 – 2019
Chart 27 – Growth in the number of cable broadband subscribers and penetration – 2009 – 2019
Chart 28 – Change in the number of DSL subscribers and penetration – 2009 – 2019
Chart 29 – Change in the number of Movistar’s broadband subscribers – 2009 – 2019
Chart 30 – Growth in the number of Telecom Argentina’s broadband subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Chart 31 – Change in Telecom Argentina’s broadband ARPU – 2011 – 2019
Chart 32 – Growth in the number of Movistar’s FttX broadband subscribers – 2016 – 2019
Chart 33 – Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2019
Chart 34 – Growth in the number of fixed wireless broadband connections – 2010 – 2019
Chart 35 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2009 – 2024
Chart 36 – Change in mobile market share at a glance – 2010 – 2019
Chart 37 – Change in the ratio of mobile prepaid/postpaid subscribers – 2013 – 2019
Chart 38 – Change in the number of prepaid and postpaid mobile subscribers – 2013 – 2019
Chart 39 – Growth in mobile market revenue and investment – 2013 – 2019
Chart 40 – Growth in mobile voice traffic – 2013 – 2019
Chart 41 – Decline in SMS traffic – 2007 – 2019
Chart 42 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration rate – 2009 – 2024
Chart 43 – Change in annual mobile numbers ported – 2012 – 2019
Chart 44 – Growth in the number of Movistar’s LTE subscribers and penetration – 2016 – 2019
Chart 45 – Increase in the number of LTE base stations in service – 2015 – 2019
Chart 46 – Growth in the number of Claro’s mobile subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Chart 47 – Growth in Claro’s wireless revenue – 2012 – 2019
Chart 48 – Change in Telecom Personal’s mobile subscribers and annual change – 2009 – 2019
Chart 49 – Change in the number of Personal’s prepaid and contract subscribers – 2013 – 2019
Chart 50 – Change in telecom Personal’s mobile ARPU – 2012 – 2019
Chart 51 – Development of Telecom Personal’s mobile service revenue – 2012 – 2019
Chart 52 – Change in the number of Movistar’s mobile subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Chart 53 – Development of Movistar’s mobile revenue – 2009 – 2019
Chart 54 – Decline in Movistar’s blended mobile ARPU – 2008 – 2019

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Map of Argentina
Exhibit 2 – Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 3 – South America - Key Characteristics of Telecoms Markets by Country
Exhibit 4 – Central America - Key Characteristics of Telecoms Markets by Country

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2019 Argentina - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

Telefónica Argentina considers exiting the market

Key developments:

Companies mentioned in this report:

Key statistics

COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Fixed network operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Broadband market

Digital economy

Mobile communications

Appendix – Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

Purchase this Report

Share this Report

TMT Intelligence

A platform to scale your intelligence tasks

Research Methodology

Hot Topics

News & Views