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Paraguay - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Paraguay avoids having merger of Tigo with Liberty Latin America

The state-owned incumbent, Corporación Paraguaya de Comunicaciones (Copaco) retains a monopoly on all fixed-line voice services, including local telephony, international long-distance telephony, and VoIP. In the mobile market, however, there has been competition since 1998. The internet market is also open to competition, and there are over a dozen ISPs offering services. Copaco lost its monopoly over the international backbone for internet connectivity in early 2009.

Growth in the number of mobile subscribers in recent years has been helped by the poor condition of much of the country’s fixed-line infrastructure. Underinvestment in infrastructure by Copaco has meant that lift Paraguay’s teledensity remains very low for the region. There is little expectation that the situation will be addressed effectively until the operator is restructured. Despite this the number of mobile subscriptions fell in recent years, partly due to economic constraints and partly due to price competition among operators which has made it less attractive to have SIM cards from different networks.

Another major drawback for Copaco and for Paraguay’s telecom sector generally is the country’s landlocked position, which makes it dependant on neighbouring nations for interconnection with submarine cable networks. This has driven up the price of broadband services, hampered growth in the sector and resulted in relatively low penetration. Available technologies include DSL, cable modem, FttP, and WiMAX. Copaco has a near-monopoly in the DSL market, given that there is little regulatory provision for unbundled local loops and other access mechanisms. DSL is the main fixed broadband technology, but it is unavailable in much of the country due to low teledensity. There is a fast-growing fibre broadband market, though the number of subscribers remains small while network builds remain limited to certain pockets within the major cities.

Copaco’s main competitor in the fixed broadband market is Millicom’s Tigo, which offers broadband via cable modem under the brand name Tigo Hogar. The service is available in Asunción and neighbouring towns over a Hybrid Fibre-Coaxial (HFC) network. Tigo also provides broadband using WiMAX and FttP technologies.

There is effective competition in the mobile market, which is served by four operators: Tigo (the market leader), Telecom Argentina’s Núcleo, América Móvil’s Claro, and Copaco’s Vox. These operators have capitalised on the opportunities created by poor fixed-line infrastructure and by consumer demand for mobile voice and data services. There are about 18 mobile phones in Paraguay for every fixed-line in service, the highest proportion in Latin America.

Key developments:

  • Telcos and government agencies agree to coordinate efforts to improve fibre connectivity;
  • Regulator raises $84 million from 700MHz auction; approves updated National Telecommunications Plan 2016 - 2020;
  • Tigo to invest $100 million to provide 66% population coverage with LTE by end-2020;
  • Paraguay joins the South American fibre ring project developed by the Union of South American Nations;
  • Report update includes the regulator's market data to for 2017, operator data to Q1 2019, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Copaco, Millicom (Tigo Paraguay), Vox, América Móvil (Claro Paraguay), Grupo Clarin, DirecTV, Personal (Telecom Argentina).

Table of Contents

  • Key statistics

  • Country overview

  • Telecommunications market

    • Historical overview
    • Market analysis
    • 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

  • Regulatory environment

    • Historical overview
    • Regulatory authority
    • Universal Service Fund

  • Fixed network operators

    • Copaco

  • Telecommunications infrastructure

    • National telecom network
    • International infrastructure
    • Infrastructure developments
      • Wireless Local Loop (WLL)
    • Wholesale
    • Data centres

  • Fixed-line broadband market

    • Introduction and statistical overview
    • Broadband statistics
    • WiMAX
    • Forecasts – fixed broadband subscribers – 2019; 2021; 2023

  • Digital economy

    • eHealth

  • Mobile market

    • Market analysis
    • Mobile statistics
    • Mobile data
      • SMS / MMS
    • Mobile broadband
    • Forecasts – mobile subscribers – 2019; 2021; 2023
    • Regulatory issues
      • Spectrum allocations and spectrum auctions
      • 1700MHz and 2100MHz
      • 700MHz
      • Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
    • Mobile infrastructure
      • 4G (LTE)
      • 3G
      • Other infrastructure developments
    • Machine-to-Machine (M2M)
    • Major mobile operators
      • Tigo (Millicom International Cellular)
      • Personal (Núcleo/Telecom Argentina)
      • Claro (América Móvil)
      • Vox (Hola Paraguay/Copaco)

  • Related reports


List of Tables

  • Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Paraguay – 2018
  • Table 2 – Evolution of GDP in Paraguay – 2013 – 2018
  • Table 3 – Fixed and mobile market share of subscribers – 2009 – 2019
  • Table 4 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2010 - 2019
  • Table 5 – International bandwidth – 2009- 2016
  • Table 6 – Tigo broadband homes connected – 2015 - 2019
  • Table 7 – Internet users and user penetration – 2010 - 2019
  • Table 8 – Broadband subscribers, annual change and penetration – 2010 - 2018
  • Table 9 – Fixed broadband subscribers by platform– 2006 – 2016
  • Table 10 – Fixed internet subscribers by access speed – 2010 - 2016
  • Table 11 – Forecast fixed broadband subscribers –2019; 2021; 2023
  • Table 12 – Mobile and mobile internet coverage by technology – 2017
  • Table 13 – Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 2010 - 2019
  • Table 14 – Mobile subscribers: contract and prepaid – 2010 – 2016
  • Table 15 – Mobile operators’ market share – 2002 – 2016
  • Table 16 – SMS traffic – 2012 – 2017
  • Table 17 – Mobile broadband subscribers by data rate – 2010 - 2017
  • Table 18 – Active mobile broadband subscribers – 2009 - 2019
  • Table 19 – Forecast mobile broadband subscribers –2019; 2021; 2023
  • Table 20 – Mobile spectrum distribution
  • Table 21 – Annual mobile numbers ported – 2012 – 2016
  • Table 22 – Operator devices in service by technology – 2017
  • Table 23 – Tigo mobile subscribers (regulator data) – 2002 – 2017
  • Table 24 – Tigo mobile subscribers (company data) – 2016 – 2019
  • Table 25 – Tigo revenue – 2015 – 2019
  • Table 26 – Personal - mobile ARPU and churn – 2017 - 2019
  • Table 27 – Personal - mobile subscribers – 2009 - 2019
  • Table 28 – Personal mobile revenue – 2011 - 2019
  • Table 29 – Claro mobile subscribers – 2010 - 2017
  • Table 30 – Vox mobile subscribers – 2010 - 2017

List of Charts

  • Chart 1 – Latin America – Overall Telecoms Maturity Index
  • Chart 2 – Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Leaders Category
  • Chart 3 – Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Challengers Category
  • Chart 4 – Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Laggards Category
  • 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 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2005 – 2019
  • Chart 11 – Internet users and user penetration – 2010 – 2019
  • Chart 12 – Broadband subscribers, annual change and penetration – 2015 – 2019
  • Chart 13 – Fixed broadband subscribers by platform– 2006 – 2016
  • Chart 14 – Fixed internet subscribers by access speed – 2010 - 2016
  • Chart 15 – Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 2005 – 2019
  • Chart 16 – Mobile subscribers: contract and prepaid – 2010 – 2016
  • Chart 17 – Mobile operators’ market share – 2002 – 2016
  • Chart 18 – Active mobile broadband subscribers – 2009 - 2019
  • Chart 19 – Tigo revenue – 2015 – 2019

List of Exhibits

  • Exhibit 1 – Map of Paraguay
  • 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

Related Reports

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Focus Report Profile

Technologies

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

Number of pages 70

Status Current

Last updated 23 May 2019
Update History

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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