Colombia - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Last updated: 10 Jul 2020 Update History

Report Pages: 205

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Colombia completes multi-spectrum auction in push for 5G

Colombia’s telecom infrastructure has evolved strongly in recent years and has recently been stimulated by a new program aimed at delivering upgraded services based on LTE and 5G. This is aimed at addressing the relatively poor infrastructure in small urban centres and rural areas, as well as migrating infrastructure from GSM and 3G to more capable technologies. The regulator has also supported these measures by adopting a number of effective regulatory instruments, facilitating the entry of operators to the mobile market in a bid to improve competition, and extend the availability of mobile spectrum via auctions (most recently in December 2019).

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. Initiatives including the National ICT Plan 2008-2019 and the Live Digital for the People 2014-2018 program have helped increase broadband take-up. With a focus on fibre connectivity, the number of DSL connections has fallen steadily.

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 Tigo Colombia dominate, though the market share held by MVNOs is growing steadily. Additional competition is offered by Novator Partners, which acquired a majority stake in the financially stressed Avantel in July 2020.

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.

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:

MNP process is reduced to one day;
Novator Partners acquires majority stake in Avantel;
Tigo Colombia launches services in the 700MHz band acquired at auction;
Regulators present Spectrum Policy 2020-2024 program;
Claro Colombia trials 5G;
Regulator increases spectrum cap for MNOs to help improve network capacity;
Telefónica Group prepares to exit Colombia;
Regulator amends fixed-to-mobile MTRs;
Azteca completes 20,500km terrestrial cable connecting 80% of the country;
Report update includes the regulator's market data to December 2019, telcos' operating and financial data to Q1 2020, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector, 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

Key Statistics
Regional Latin America Market Comparison

Telecom Maturity Index by tier

Top-tier – Market Leaders
Middle-tier – Market Challengers
Bottom-tier – Market Emergents
South America Telecom Maturity Index
Central America Telecom Maturity Index

TMI versus GDP
Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
Fixed and mobile broadband penetration

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

Economic considerations and responses
Mobile devices
Subscribers
Infrastructure

Telecommunications market

Market analysis

Regulatory environment

Historical overview
Regulatory authorities

Communications Regulations Commission (CRC, previously CRT)
ANTV

Fixed-line developments

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

Mobile network developments

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

Mobile market

Market analysis
Mobile statistics

Mobile voice
Mobile data
Mobile broadband

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
Novator Partners
Mobile Virtual Network Operators

Fixed-line broadband market

Market analysis

Government initiatives

Broadband statistics
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

Fixed network operators

Introduction
ETB

Privatisation and merger plans

Movistar (Telefónica Telecom/Colombia Telecom)
Tigo Colombia

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
Terrestrial links
Satellite networks

Wholesale

Appendix – Historic data
Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Colombia – 2020 (e)
Table 2 – Evolution of GDP in Colombia – 2010 – 2020
Table 3 – Change in the proportion of fixed and mobile connections – 2010 – 2019
Table 4 – Spectrum allocations – 1993
Table 5 – Increase in the number of mobile numbers ported – 2011 – 2017
Table 6 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2025
Table 7 – Change in the market share of mobile operators – 2010 – 2019
Table 8 – Change in the number of prepaid/postpaid mobile subscribers – 2016 – 2019
Table 9 – Change in the proportion of prepaid/postpaid mobile subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Table 10 – Change in the average revenue from prepaid/postpaid mobile subscribers – 2017 – 2019
Table 11 – Growth in mobile voice traffic – 2018 – 2019
Table 12 – Growth in mobile voice revenue – 2018 – 2019
Table 13 – Decline in SMS traffic (Q4) – 2013 – 2019
Table 14 – Change in annual SMS traffic – 2018 – 2019
Table 15 – Decline in annual SMS revenue – 2018 – 2019
Table 16 – Change in the number of mobile internet subscriptions by technology – 2011 – 2019
Table 17 – Growth in the number of mobile internet subscribers by operator – 2013 – 2019
Table 18 – Change in the share of mobile broadband subscribers by operator – 2010 – 2019
Table 19 – Growth in mobile internet traffic – 2018 – 2019
Table 20 – Development of mobile internet revenue – 2018 – 2019
Table 21 – Growth in the number of mobile broadband accesses and penetration – 2010 – 2025
Table 22 – Change in the number of mobile internet accesses by technology – 2017 – 2019
Table 23 – Development of municipal coverage by mobile technology – 2017 – 2019
Table 24 – Growth in the number of LTE mobile internet subscribers – 2012 – 2019
Table 25 – Change in the number of 3G mobile internet subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Table 26 – Change in the number of GSM mobile internet subscribers – 2016 – 2019
Table 27 – Growth in the number of Movistar’s M2M connections – 2014 – 2019
Table 28 – Change in the number of Claro Colombia’s mobile subscribers – 2009 – 2020
Table 29 – Development of Claro Colombia’s service revenue – 2011 – 2020
Table 30 – Development of Claro Colombia’s financial data – 2011 – 2020
Table 31 – Growth in the number of Movistar’s mobile subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Table 32 – Development of Movistar Colombia’s mobile financial data – 2013 – 2019
Table 33 – Growth in the number of Tigo Colombia’s mobile subscribers – 2010 – 2020
Table 34 – Growth in the number of Tigo Colombia’s subscribers (MinTIC data) – 2016 – 2019
Table 35 – Development of Tigo Colombia’s financial data – 2010 – 2020
Table 36 – Growth in the number of Avantel’s mobile subscribers – 2013 – 2019
Table 37 – MNVO share of mobile subscribers – 2011 – 2019
Table 38 – Change in the number of ETB’s mobile subscribers – 2013 – 2019
Table 39 – Growth in the number of Virgin Mobile’s subscribers – 2013 – 2019
Table 40 – Change in Virgin Mobile’s market share of subscribers – 2013 – 2019
Table 41 – Change in the number of Móvil Exito’s mobile subscribers – 2013 – 2019
Table 42 – Fixed-line internet service revenue – 2018 – 2019
Table 43 – Total internet subscribers (fixed and mobile) and penetration – 2012 – 2019
Table 44 – Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2025
Table 45 – Change in the market share of broadband lines by technologies – 2010 – 2019
Table 46 – Change in the number of broadband subscribers by major operator – 2012 – 2019
Table 47 – Change in the broadband market share by major operators – 2011 – 2019
Table 48 – Cable broadband subscribers and penetration rate – 2010 – 2019
Table 49 – Growth in the number of Movistar’s broadband subscribers (company data) – 2015 – 2019
Table 50 – Decline in the number of DSL subscribers and penetration rate – 2010 – 2019
Table 51 – Growth in the number of ETB’s fibre broadband subscribers – 2015 – 2020
Table 52 - Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2019
Table 53 – Change in the number of WiMAX broadband subscribers – 2015 – 2019
Table 54 – Change in the number of satellite broadband subscribers – 2013 – 2019
Table 55 – Share of fixed lines in service (major operators) – 2010 – 2018
Table 56 – Change in ETB’s share of subscriptions by services (Bogota) – 2013 – 2019
Table 57 – Decline in the number of ETB’s lines in service – 2010 – 2019
Table 58 – Development of ETB’s financial data – 2013 – 2020
Table 59 – Change in ETB’s operating revenue by service – 2017 – 2019
Table 60 – Decline in the number of Movistar’s fixed lines in service (regulator data) – 2010 – 2019
Table 61 – Change in Movistar’s financial data – 2015 – 2020
Table 62 – Change in the number of Tigo Une’s fixed lines in service – 2010 – 2019
Table 63 – Change in the number of Claro’s fixed lines in service – 2010 – 2019
Table 64 – Development of Claro’s revenue by sector – 2011 – 2020
Table 65 – Development of Claro’s financial data – 2011 – 2020
Table 66 – Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2010 – 2025
Table 67 – Decline in fixed-line voice traffic – 2018 – 2019
Table 68 – Decline in fixed-line voice revenue – 2018 – 2019
Table 69 – Historic - Evolution of GDP in Colombia – 2000 – 2009
Table 70 – Historic - Fixed and mobile market share of connections – 1998 – 2009
Table 71 – Historic - Telcom market revenue (COP) – 2000 – 2016
Table 72 – Historic - Telcom market revenue (US$ billion) – 2000 – 2016
Table 73 – Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 1997 – 2009
Table 74 – Historic - Market share of mobile operators – 2001 – 2009
Table 75 – Historic - Active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2008 – 2009
Table 76 – Historic - Mobile prepaid/postpaid ratio – 2005 – 2009
Table 77 – Historic - Claro Colombia mobile subscribers – 2001 – 2009
Table 78 – Historic - Movistar mobile subscribers – 2001 – 2009
Table 79 – Historic – TigoUne mobile subscribers – 2003 – 2009
Table 80 – Historic – Uff! mobile subscribers – 2011 – 2018
Table 81 – Historic - UNE-EPM mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2017
Table 82 – Historic - Internet users and user penetration rates – 1997 – 2009
Table 83 – Historic - Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration rates – 2002 – 2009
Table 84 – Historic - Market share of broadband lines by technologies – 2003 – 2009
Table 85 – Historic - Cable modem subscribers and penetration rates – 2003 – 2009
Table 86 – Historic - DSL subscribers and penetration rates – 2003 – 2009
Table 87 – Historic - Share of fixed lines in service (major operators) – 2000 – 2009
Table 88 – Historic – ETB’s fixed lines in service – 2000 – 2009
Table 89 – Historic – Movistar’s fixed lines in service (regulator data) – 2000 – 2008
Table 90 – Historic - Tigo Une’s fixed lines in service – 2000 – 2009
Table 91 – Historic - UNE – EPM financial data – 2015 – 2017
Table 92 – Historic – Claro’s fixed lines in service – 2006 – 2009
Table 93 – Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 1996 – 2009

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Latin America – Overall Telecoms Maturity Index
Chart 2 – Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Leaders
Chart 3 – Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Challengers
Chart 4 – Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Emergents
Chart 5 – South America –Telecoms Maturity Index by country
Chart 6 – Central America –Telecoms Maturity Index by country
Chart 7 – Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita
Chart 8 – Latin America mobile subscriber penetration versus mobile broadband penetration
Chart 9 – Latin America fixed broadband penetration versus mobile broadband penetration
Chart 10 – Change in the proportion of fixed and mobile connections – 2010 – 2019
Chart 11 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2025
Chart 12 – Change in the market share of mobile operators – 2010 – 2019
Chart 13 – Change in the number of prepaid/postpaid mobile subscribers – 2016 – 2019
Chart 14 – Change in the proportion of prepaid/postpaid mobile subscribers – 2005 – 2019
Chart 15 – Change in the average revenue from prepaid/postpaid mobile subscribers – 2017 – 2019
Chart 16 – Decline in SMS traffic (Q4) – 2013 – 2019
Chart 17 – Change in the number of mobile internet subscriptions by technology – 2012 – 2019
Chart 18 – Growth in the number of mobile internet subscribers by operator – 2013 – 2019
Chart 19 – Change in the share of mobile broadband subscribers by operator – 2010 – 2019
Chart 20 – Growth in the number of mobile broadband accesses and penetration – 2010 – 2025
Chart 21 – Change in the number of mobile internet accesses by technology – 2017 – 2019
Chart 22 – Growth in the number of LTE mobile internet subscribers – 2012 – 2019
Chart 23 – Change in the number of 3G mobile internet subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Chart 24 – Change in the number of GSM mobile internet subscribers – 2016 – 2019
Chart 25 – Change in the number of Claro Colombia’s mobile subscribers – 2009 – 2020
Chart 26 – Development of Claro Colombia’s service revenue – 2011 – 2020
Chart 27 – Development of Claro Colombia’s financial data – 2011 – 2020
Chart 28 – Growth in the number of Movistar’s mobile subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Chart 29 – Development of Movistar Colombia’s mobile financial data – 2013 – 2019
Chart 30 – Growth in the number of Tigo Colombia’s mobile subscribers – 2010 – 2020
Chart 31 – Development of Tigo Colombia’s financial data – 2010 – 2020
Chart 32 – Growth in the number of Avantel’s mobile subscribers – 2013 – 2019
Chart 33 – Change in the number of ETB’s mobile subscribers – 2013 – 2019
Chart 34 – Growth in the number of Virgin Mobile’s subscribers – 2013 – 2019
Chart 35 – Change in the number of Móvil Exito’s mobile subscribers – 2013 – 2019
Chart 36 – Total internet subscribers (fixed and mobile) and penetration – 2012 – 2019
Chart 37 – Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2025
Chart 38 – Change in the market share of broadband lines by technologies – 2010 – 2019
Chart 39 – Change in the number of broadband subscribers by major operator – 2012 – 2019
Chart 40 – Change in the broadband market share by major operators – 2011 – 2019
Chart 41 – Growth in the number of Movistar’s broadband subscribers (company data) – 2015 – 2019
Chart 42 – Growth in the number of ETB’s fibre broadband subscribers – 2015 – 2020
Chart 43 – Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2019
Chart 44 – Share of fixed lines in service (major operators) – 2000 – 2018
Chart 45 – Decline in the number of ETB’s lines in service – 2010 – 2019
Chart 46 – Development of ETB’s financial data – 2013 – 2020
Chart 47 – Change in ETB’s operating revenue by service – 2017 – 2019
Chart 48 – Decline in the number of Movistar’s fixed lines in service (regulator data) – 2010 – 2019
Chart 49 – Change in Movistar’s financial data – 2015 – 2020
Chart 50 – Change in the number of Tigo Une’s fixed lines in service – 2010 – 2019
Chart 51 – Change in the number of Claro’s fixed lines in service – 2010 – 2019
Chart 52 – Development of Claro’s revenue by sector – 2011 – 2020
Chart 53 – Development of Claro’s financial data – 2011 – 2020
Chart 54 – Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2010 – 2025

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 2 – South America - Key Characteristics of Telecoms Markets by Country
Exhibit 3 – Central America - Key Characteristics of Telecoms Markets by Country
Exhibit 4 – Map of Colombia
Exhibit 5 – 4G auction results

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Colombia - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

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Colombia completes multi-spectrum auction in push for 5G

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 operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Appendix – Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

Purchase this Report

USD 1,150.00

Share this Report

Purchase with Confidence

Research Methodology

Sample Reports

Research

Hot Topics

News & Views