Argentina Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Publication Date: December 2024

Report Pages: 204

Analyst: Stephen Marshall

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Argentina’s telecom regulator releases ARS671.6 million to boost national broadband connectivity

Argentina’s ongoing problem with hyperinflation continues to distort the telecom market’s performance, which shows strong growth in revenue but only modest gains in subscriber numbers each year. The country’s economic challenges have been exacerbated since 2020 by the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant austerity measures, coupled with a drought, lower export sales, and an economic slowdown in Brazil – Argentina’s main trading partner.

Nevertheless, the mobility restrictions, rising unemployment, and an overall decline in productivity have had a minimal adverse effect on the telecom sector. Fixed-line teledensity continues on its slow, gradual decline year upon year, but at a much gentler pace than has been seen in other parts of the world. The fixed broadband segment has penetration levels only slightly higher than the fixed-line teledensity; nearly a quarter of the country’s broadband connections are via DSL, although fibre is starting claim an increasing share of that market as networks expand across most of the main cities.

Mobile broadband continues to be the preferred platform for internet access, supported by high mobile penetration levels and nationwide LTE coverage. The first 5G service was launched in February 2021 using re-farmed LTE frequencies. The anticipated 5G spectrum auctions should drive even stronger uptake in mobile broadband services.

While the various fixed, mobile, and cable operators push to expand and enhance their services, the government is also making an active contribution towards boosting broadband connectivity around the country. Its national connectivity plan ‘Plan Conectar’, launched in September 2020, provides funding for a range of programs to increase coverage. In August 2021, the telecom regulator announced the release of a further ARS671.6 million in funding to help operators accelerate the rollout of their broadband infrastructure and services.

This report includes the regulator's market data to June 2021, telcos' financial and operating data updates to Q3 2021, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector, and other recent market developments.

Key developments:

Argentina’s government declares TV, internet, and mobile as being essential public services, preventing operators from raising prices.
ARSAT given access to 4,405km of disused fibre infrastructure spanning 14 provinces;
5G is launched by Telecom Personal using Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) on re-farmed LTE frequencies.
Ministry of Public Innovation approves passive infrastructure sharing regulations.
Regulator launches consultation on the use and allocation of the 6GHz band for Wi-Fi services.
Roaming charges are abolished between Argentina and Chile.
Movistar and IBM launch Open RAN proof of concept network in Puerto Madryn.
Telecom Argentina to phase out its Fibertel and Cablevisión brands, integrating them into the Personal and Flow brands respectively.
GlobeNet’s 2,500km Malbec submarine system linking Rio de Janeiro with Buenos Aires is lit.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Movistar, Telefónica de Argentina, Telecom Argentina, Grupo Clarín, Claro, Telmex, Telecom Personal, Nextel Argentina, IPLAN, ARSAT, Cablevisión, VeloCom, Fibrenet, Arnet, MercadoLibre.

Key statistics
Regional Latin America Market Comparison

Market characteristics
Market Leaders
Market Challengers
Market Emergents
TMI versus GDP
Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration

Country overview
Covid-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Economic considerations and responses
Subscribers
Infrastructure

Telecommunications market

Market analysis

Regulatory environment

Regulatory authority

Ente Nacional de Comunicaciones (ENACOM)

Fixed-line developments

Argentina Digital Act
Interconnect
Number Portability (NP)
Single licence

Mobile network developments

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

Mobile market

Mobile statistics
Mobile infrastructure

5G
4G (LTE)
3G
Other infrastructure developments
Mobile data
Mobile broadband

Major mobile operators

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

Fixed-line broadband market

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

MercadoLibre

Online banking

Fixed network market

Major fixed-network operators

Telefónica de Argentina (Movistar)
Telecom Argentina
Telecom cooperatives
Telmex Argentina
IPLAN

Telecommunications infrastructure

National telecom network
International infrastructure

Submarine cable networks
Satellite networks

Wholesale

Appendix – Historic data
Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Argentina – 2021 (e)
Table 2 – Evolution of GDP in Argentina – 2011 – 2021
Table 3 – Telecom revenue by segment (ARS billion) – 2013 – 2021
Table 4 – Telecom sector ARPU by segment (ARS / month) – 2013 – 2021
Table 5 – Investment by sector (ARS billion) – 2013 – 2019
Table 6 – Change in annual mobile numbers ported – 2012 – 2021
Table 7 – Change in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2011 – 2026
Table 8 – Annual change in the number of mobile subscribers – 2011 – 2026
Table 9 – Change in mobile operators’ market share – 2011 – 2021
Table 10 – Change in the number of prepaid and postpaid mobile subscribers (million) – 2013 – 2021
Table 11 – Change in the ratio of mobile prepaid/postpaid subscribers – 2013 – 2021
Table 12 – Growth in mobile market revenue and investment (ARS million) – 2013 – 2021
Table 13 – Development of annualised mobile ARPU – 2013 – 2021
Table 14 – Growth in mobile voice traffic (billion minutes) – 2013 – 2021
Table 15 – Growth in the number of Movistar’s LTE subscribers and penetration – 2016 – 2019
Table 16 – Increase in the number of LTE base stations in service – 2015 – 2020
Table 17 – Decline in SMS traffic – 2011 – 2021
Table 18 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration rate – 2011 – 2026
Table 19 – Growth in the number of Claro’s mobile subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Table 20 – Growth in Claro’s wireless revenue – 2009 – 2021
Table 21 – Change in Telecom Personal’s mobile subscribers and annual change – 2011 – 2021
Table 22 – Change in the number of Personal’s subscribers by type (million) – 2013 – 2021
Table 23 – Change in telecom Personal’s mobile ARPU – 2012 – 2021
Table 24 – Development of Telecom Personal’s mobile service revenue (ARS million) – 2012 – 2021
Table 25 – Personal - mobile data and voice usage per month – 2013 – 2021
Table 26 – Change in the number of Movistar’s mobile subscribers – 2011 – 2019
Table 27 – Development of Movistar’s mobile revenue (€ million) – 2009 – 2019
Table 28 – Decline in Movistar’s blended mobile ARPU – 2008 – 2019
Table 29 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration – 2011 – 2026
Table 30 – Change in broadband market share by technology – 2011 – 2021
Table 31 – Decline in the number of dial-up subscriptions – 2011 – 2021
Table 32 – Growth in fixed internet services revenue – 2013 – 2021
Table 33 – Change in the number of fixed broadband connections by access speed – 2014 – 2021
Table 34 – Average fixed internet access speed – 2014 – 2021
Table 35 – Fixed internet services ARPU – 2013 – 2021
Table 36 – Growth in the number of cable broadband subscribers and penetration – 2011 – 2021
Table 37 – Change in the number of DSL subscribers and penetration rate – 2011 – 2021
Table 38 – Change in the number of Movistar’s broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2019
Table 39 – Growth in the number of Telecom Argentina’s broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Table 40 – Change in Telecom Argentina’s broadband ARPU – 2011 – 2021
Table 41 – Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 42 – Growth in the number of fixed wireless broadband connections – 2010 – 2021
Table 43 – Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2011 – 2026
Table 44 – Decline in fixed-line household teledensity – 2013 – 2021
Table 45 – Fixed Telephony ARPU (ARS) – 2011 – 2021
Table 46 – Development of Telefónica de Argentina’s financial data (€ million) – 2009 – 2021
Table 47 – Decline in the number of Telefónica de Argentina’s fixed lines in service (million) – 2011 – 2019
Table 48 – Development of Telefónica de Argentina’s annualised fixed ARPU (€/month) – 2016 – 2019
Table 49 – Development of Telecom Argentina’s financial data (ARS billion) – 2011 – 2021
Table 50 – Development of Telecom Argentina’s capex and EBITDA (ARS billion) – 2017 – 2021
Table 51 – Growth in Telecom Argentina’s domestic revenue by service (ARS billion) – 2011 – 2021
Table 52 – Change in the number of Telecom Argentina’s fixed lines – 2011 – 2021
Table 53 – Growth in the number of Telmex’s fixed-line subscriptions – 2009 – 2021
Table 54 – Development of Telmex’s fixed-line financial data (ARS million) – 2011 – 2021
Table 55 – Historic - Evolution of GDP in Argentina – 2000 – 2010
Table 56 – Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 1996 – 2010
Table 57 – Historic - Telecom Argentina fixed lines in service – 2000 – 2010
Table 58 – Historic - Telefónica de Argentina fixed lines in service (million) – 2000 – 2010
Table 59 – Historic - International bandwidth – 2000 – 2010
Table 60 – Historic - Movistar wholesale accesses – 2005 – 2017
Table 61 – Historic - Internet users and user penetration – 1996 – 2015
Table 62 – Historic - Fixed-line internet subscribers and penetration rates – 2000 – 2010
Table 63 – Historic - DSL subscribers and penetration rates – 2001 – 2010
Table 64 – Historic - Cable modem subscribers and penetration rates – 2001 – 2010
Table 65 – Historic - Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration rates – 2001 – 2010
Table 66 – Historic - Movistar broadband subscribers – 2001 – 2010
Table 67 – Historic - Broadband market share by provider – 2003 – 2014
Table 68 – Historic - FiberTel broadband subscribers – 2003 – 2016
Table 69 – Historic - Telecom Argentina - broadband subscribers – 2003 – 2010
Table 70 – Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration – 1998 – 2010
Table 71 – Historic - Nextel mobile revenue – 2012 – 2015
Table 72 – Historic - Nextel mobile ARPU – 2012 – 2015
Table 73 – Historic - Mobile operators’ market share – 1999 – 2010
Table 74 – Historic - Nextel - mobile subscribers – 2002 – 2015
Table 75 – Historic - Telecom Personal mobile subscribers, annual change – 1999 – 2010
Table 76 – Historic - Movistar - mobile subscribers – 1999 – 2010
Table 77 – Historic - Claro - mobile subscribers – 1999 – 2010
Table 78 – Historic - Change in broadband market share by technology – 2001 – 2010
Table 79 – Historic - Decline in SMS traffic – 2007 – 2010
Table 80 – Historic - Decline in the number of dial-up subscriptions – 2008 – 2010
Table 81 – Historic - Growth in international internet bandwidth – 2010 – 2017

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Leaders
Chart 2 – Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Challengers
Chart 3 – Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Emergents
Chart 4 – Latin America - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
Chart 5 – Latin America – Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 – South America mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 7 – Central America – mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 8 – South America – Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 9 – Central America – Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 10 – Telecom revenue by segment – 2013 – 2021
Chart 11 – Telecom ARPU by segment – 2013 – 2021
Chart 12 – Telecom investment by segment (ARS) – 2013 – 2019
Chart 13 – Change in annual mobile numbers ported – 2012 – 2021
Chart 14 – Change in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2011 – 2026
Chart 15 – Change in mobile market share by operator – 2011 – 2021
Chart 16 – Change in the number of prepaid and postpaid mobile subscribers – 2013 – 2021
Chart 17 – Change in the ratio of mobile prepaid/postpaid subscribers – 2013 – 2021
Chart 18 – Growth in mobile market revenue and investment – 2013 – 2021
Chart 19 – Growth in mobile voice traffic – 2013 – 2021
Chart 20 – Growth in the number of Movistar’s LTE subscribers and penetration – 2016 – 2019
Chart 21 – Increase in the number of LTE base stations in service – 2015 – 2020
Chart 22 – Decline in SMS traffic – 2011 – 2021
Chart 23 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration rate – 2011 – 2026
Chart 24 – Growth in the number of Claro’s mobile subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Chart 25 – Growth in Claro’s wireless revenue – 2009 – 2021
Chart 26 – Change in Telecom Personal’s mobile subscribers and annual change – 2011 – 2021
Chart 27 – Change in the number of Personal’s subscribers by type (million) – 2013 – 2021
Chart 28 – Change in telecom Personal’s mobile ARPU – 2012 – 2021
Chart 29 – Development of Telecom Personal’s mobile service revenue – 2012 – 2021
Chart 30 – Change in the number of Movistar’s mobile subscribers – 2011 – 2019
Chart 31 – Development of Movistar’s mobile revenue – 2009 – 2019
Chart 32 – Decline in Movistar’s blended mobile ARPU – 2008 – 2019
Chart 33 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration – 2011 – 2026
Chart 34 – Change in broadband market share by technology – 2011 – 2021
Chart 35 – Growth in fixed internet services revenue – 2013 – 2021
Chart 36 – Change in the number of fixed broadband connections by access speed – 2014 – 2021
Chart 37 – Growth in the number of cable broadband subscribers and penetration – 2011 – 2021
Chart 38 – Change in the number of DSL subscribers and penetration – 2011 – 2021
Chart 39 – Change in the number of Movistar’s broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2019
Chart 40 – Growth in the number of Telecom Argentina’s broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Chart 41 – Change in Telecom Argentina’s broadband ARPU – 2011 – 2021
Chart 42 – Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 43 – Growth in the number of fixed wireless broadband connections – 2010 – 2021
Chart 44 – Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2011 – 2026
Chart 45 – Decline in fixed-line household teledensity – 2013 – 2021
Chart 46 – Development of Telefónica de Argentina’s financial data – 2009 – 2021
Chart 47 – Decline in the number of Telefónica de Argentina’s fixed lines in service – 2011 – 2019
Chart 48 – Development of Telecom Argentina’s financial data – 2011 – 2021
Chart 49 – Growth in Telecom Argentina’s domestic revenue by service – 2011 – 2021
Chart 50 – Change in the number of Telecom Argentina’s fixed lines – 2011 – 2021
Chart 51 – Growth in the number of Telmex’s fixed-line subscriptions – 2009 – 2021
Chart 52 – Development of Telmex’s fixed-line financial data – 2011 – 2021

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Map of Telecom Maturity Index global ranking among countries in Latin America
Exhibit 2 – Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 3 – Latin America – Market Leaders and market developments
Exhibit 4 – Latin America – Market Challengers and market developments
Exhibit 5 – Latin America – Market Emergents and market developments
Exhibit 6 – Map of Argentina

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Argentina Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

Argentina’s telecom regulator releases ARS671.6 million to boost national broadband connectivity

Key developments:

Companies mentioned in this report:

Key statistics

Regional Latin America Market Comparison

Country overview

Covid-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Digital economy

Fixed network market

Telecommunications infrastructure

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