Colombia - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Publication Overview

This report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Colombia’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:- November 2018 (17th Edition)

Executive Summary

Colombian government aiming to sell its stake in a leading telco

Colombia’s telecom infrastructure is reasonably well developed in the main business centres, where service availability is relatively high by regional standards. However, infrastructure remains poor in small urban centres and rural areas. The government has sought to address this with a number of public programs, supported by effective regulatory instruments, and has facilitated the entry of operators to the mobile market in a bid to improve competition and extend the availability of mobile broadband services nationally.

Colombia has about 20 local telephony providers, operating municipally, regionally, or nationally. Many of these started as private companies, but later became public concerns owned by their respective municipalities. The number of lines in service continues to fall steadily, with customers abandoning traditional phones in preference for mobile connectivity. As in other Latin American countries, most of the existing fixed telephone lines are concentrated in the larger cities, leaving the rest of the population under-serviced.

Broadband penetration is relatively high for the region, though growth in the sector has been hampered by poor fixed-line infrastructure in many of the country’s 32 departments. The government has launched several initiatives to increase broadband take-up, including the National ICT Plan 2008-2019 and the Live Digital for the People 2014-2018 program. These efforts have had considerable success, leading to far higher growth in the number of broadband subscriptions among the lower socio-economic groups in recent years. DSL has a declining market share, and fibre-based broadband has developed strongly though most infrastructure as yet is concentrated in high-density urban areas.

Growth in the mobile market has slowed in recent years though it retains significant potential, particularly in the mobile broadband sector where penetration is still low and where strong demand exists in rural areas where fixed-line infrastructure is poor. Claro, Movistar and TigoUne dominate the mobile market though a number of MVNOs are also active.

This report provides an overview of Colombia’s telecom market and regulatory environment, together with profiles of the major fixed-line operators and a range of statistics and analyses. The report also covers the fixed and fixed-wireless broadband markets, together with statistics and subscriber forecasts. In addition the report assesses the mobile market, including profiles of the major operators as well as analyses on market developments and emerging technologies.

Key Developments:

MVNO Uff! Movil ends services;
Claro Colombia trials 5G technology;
Regulator increases spectrum cap for MNOs to help improve network capacity;
TigoUne sells 1,200 mobile towers to ATC, launches an M2M service;
Movistar launches commercial VoLTE services;
Regulator amends fixed-to-mobile MTRs;
Claro extends LTE coverage to 425 municipalities;
Government investing COP200 billion in national Wi-Fi network;
COP1.2 trillion to be invested in National Fibre Optic Project;
ETB expands its fibre service;
Level 3 Communications announces plans for a new 400Gb/s spur to the SAC cable;
Azteca completes 20,500km terrestrial cable connecting 80% of the country;
Report update includes the regulator's market data to March 2018, telcos' operating and financial data to Q3 2018, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Claro (Telmex Colombia/Comcel, Movistar, TigoUne (Tigo Colombia, UNE-EPM), Avantel, DirecTV, Uff! Móvil, Metrotel, Emcali, Virgin Mobile, Móvil Éxito, Globalstar, BT Colombia, Calipso, Caucatel, Colomsat, Synapsis, Telebucaramanga, Edatel, Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Santa Fe de Bogotá (ETB), Telefónica de Pereira.

Henry Lancaster
November 2018

Table of Contents

Key statistics

Country overview

Telecommunications market

Historical overview
Market analysis

Regulatory environment

Historical overview
Regulatory authorities

Communications Regulations Commission (CRC, previously CRT)
ANTV

Convergence Decree
2009 ICT Law
Privatisation
Telecom sector liberalisation
Universal Service Fund
Licensing
Interconnect
Access
Number Portability (NP)
Multicarrier system/Carrier PreSelection (CPS)
Subsidies

Fixed network operators

Introduction
ETB

Privatisation and merger plans

Movistar (Telefónica Telecom/Colombia Telecom)
TigoUne (UNE-EPM Telecomunicaciones)

Previous subsidiaries
Edatel
Telefónica de Pereira

Claro (Telmex Colombia/América Móvil)
Emcali
Telebucaramanga

Telecommunications infrastructure

Overview of the national telecom network
International infrastructure

Submarine cable networks
Satellite networks
Terrestrial links

Wholesale

Broadband market

Market analysis

Government initiatives
Broadband statistics
Forecasts – fixed broadband market – 2019; 2021; 2023

Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
Other fixed broadband services

WiMAX
Satellite broadband

Digital economy

E-commerce

Digital media

Videostreaming

Mobile communications

Market analysis
Mobile statistics

General statistics
Mobile voice
Mobile data
Mobile broadband
Forecasts – mobile subscribers – 2019; 2021; 2023

Regulatory issues

Spectrum regulations and auctions
Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
Mobile Termination Rates (MTRs)

Mobile infrastructure

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

Major mobile operators

Claro (Comcel/América Móvil)
Movistar (Telefónica/Colombia Telecomunicaciones)
Tigo Colombia (Colombia Móvil/Millicom, EPM, ETB)
Avantel
UNE-EPM

Mobile Virtual Network Operators

Market analysis
Uff! Móvil
ETB
Metrotel
Emcali
Virgin Mobile
Móvil Éxito

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Colombia – 2018 (e)
Table 2 – Evolution of GDP in Colombia – 2000 – 2018
Table 3 – Historic - Fixed and mobile market share of connections – 1998 – 2009
Table 4 – Fixed and mobile market share of connections – 2010 – 2019
Table 5 – Telcom market revenue (COP) – 2000 – 2016
Table 6 – Telcom market revenue (US$ billion) – 2000 – 2016
Table 7 – Share of fixed lines in service (major operators) – 2000 – 2018
Table 8 – ETB share of subscriptions by services (Bogota) – 2013 – 2018
Table 9 – ETB – lines in service – 2000 – 2018
Table 10 – ETB revenue by service – 2013 – 2018
Table 11 – Movistar – fixed lines in service (regulator data) – 2000 – 2018
Table 12 – Movistar financial data – 2015 – 2018
Table 13 – TigoUne – lines in service – 2000 – 2018
Table 14 – Historic - UNE – EPM financial data – 2015 – 2017
Table 15 – Claro fixed lines in service – 2006 – 2018
Table 16 – Claro revenue by sector – 2013 – 2018
Table 17 – Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 1996 – 2009
Table 18 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2010 – 2019
Table 19 – Historic - Internet users and user penetration rates – 1997 – 2009
Table 20 – Internet users and user penetration rates– 2010 – 2018
Table 21 – Broadband subscribers by access speed – 2013 – 2018
Table 22 – Total internet subscribers (fixed and mobile) and penetration – 2012 – 2018
Table 23 – Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration rates – 2002 – 2018
Table 24 – Market share of broadband lines by technologies – 2003 – 2018
Table 25 – Major broadband operators – market share– 2011 – 2018
Table 26 – Broadband subscribers by major operator – 2012 – 2018
Table 27 – Forecast broadband subscribers – 2019; 2021; 2023
Table 28 – Cable modem subscribers and penetration rates – 2003 – 2018
Table 29 – Movistar broadband subscribers (company data) – 2015 – 2018
Table 30 – DSL subscribers and penetration rates – 2003 – 2018
Table 31 – ETB fibre broadband subscribers – 2015 - 2018
Table 32 – Fibre broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2018
Table 33 – WiMAX broadband subscribers – 2015 – 2018
Table 34 – Satellite broadband subscribers – 2013 – 2018
Table 35 – Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 1997 – 2009
Table 36 – Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 2010 - 2019
Table 37 – Market share of mobile operators – 2001 – 2018
Table 38 – Mobile prepaid/postpaid ratio – 2005 – 2018
Table 39 – SMS messages sent – 2013 – 2018
Table 40 – MMS messages sent – 2013 – 2016
Table 41 – Mobile internet subscriptions by technology (2G, 3G, 4G) – 2011 – 2018
Table 42 – Mobile internet subscribers by operator – 2013 – 2018
Table 43 – Mobile broadband market share by operator – 2010 – 2018
Table 44 – Active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2008 – 2018
Table 45 – Forecast mobile subscribers – higher growth scenario – 2019; 2021; 2023
Table 46 – Spectrum allocations – 1993
Table 47 – Mobile numbers ported – 2011 – 2016
Table 48 – LTE subscribers – 2012 – 2018
Table 49 – 3G subscribers – 2010 – 2018
Table 50 – GSM subscribers – 2016 – 2018
Table 51 – Movistar M2M connections – 2014 – 2018
Table 52 – Claro Colombia subscribers – 2001 – 2018
Table 53 – Claro Colombia service revenue – 2013 – 2018
Table 54 – Claro Colombia mobile service revenue – 2016 – 2018
Table 55 – Movistar subscribers – 2001 – 2018
Table 56 – Movistar Colombia financial data – 2013 – 2018
Table 57 – TigoUne subscribers – 2003 – 2018
Table 58 – TigoUne subscribers (MinTIC data) – 2016 – 2018
Table 59 – TigoUne financial data (historic) – 2010 – 2018
Table 60 – Avantel mobile subscribers – 2013 – 2018
Table 61 – Historic - UNE-EPM mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2017
Table 62 – Uff! mobile subscribers – 2011 – 2018
Table 63 – ETB mobile subscribers – 2013 – 2018
Table 64 – Virgin Mobile subscribers – 2013 – 2018
Table 65 – Virgin Mobile market share of subscribers – 2013 – 2018
Table 66 – Móvil Exito subscribers – 2013 – 2018

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Share of fixed lines in service (major operators) – 2000 – 2018
Chart 2 – Claro revenue by sector – 2013 – 2018
Chart 3 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2005 – 2019
Chart 4 – Internet users and user penetration rates– 2005 – 2018
Chart 5 – Broadband subscribers – market evolution at a glance – 2002 – 2018
Chart 6 – Market share of broadband lines by technologies – 2003 – 2018
Chart 7 – Mobile subscribers and penetration – 2005 – 2019
Chart 8 – Mobile internet subscriptions by technology (2G, 3G, 4G) – 2012 – 2018

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Map of Colombia
Exhibit 2 – 4G auction results

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Licence Information

Annual Publication Profile

Technologies

Broadband Fixed
Broadcasting
Companies (Major Players)
Digital Media
Internet
Mobile & Wireless Broadband and Media
Mobile Communications (voice and infrastructure)
Regulations & Government Policies
Telecoms Infrastructure

Number of pages 132

Status Current

Last updated 14 Nov 2018
Update History

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Colombia - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Colombian government aiming to sell its stake in a leading telco

Key Developments:

Companies mentioned in this report:

Key statistics

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Fixed network operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Broadband market

Digital economy

Digital media

Mobile communications