Chile Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Publication Date: April 2024

Report Pages: 267

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Summary
Table Of Contents

5G-suitable frequencies auctioned in Chile

The Chilean market for fixed and mobile telephony is highly competitive and rapidly evolving.

The mobile penetration rate is among the highest in South America. Movistar and Entel remain the market leaders, followed by Claro and WOM. LTE infrastructure is extensive and 5G spectrum auctions which took place in February 2021 are expected to prompt the deployment of 5G networks by the end of the year, following extensive trials held by the MNOs.

Fixed broadband penetration is relatively high for the region, with services among the fastest and least expensive in Latin America. Government initiatives such as the National Fibre Optic project and Fibra Óptica Austral are providing high-capacity connectivity across the country and will further increase fixed-line broadband penetration. There is a strong focus on fibre broadband, with the number of fibre subscribers having increased 61.7% in 2020, year-on-year. Movistar dominates the fibre broadband market, with a 49.7% market share at the end of 2020.

Technological improvements have allowed operators to provide a variety of services via their networks, giving rise to a number of bundled packages at competitive prices, including access to video on demand services which in turn is driving the take-up of fixed-line broadband.

The leading fixed broadband operators are Telefónica Chile, trading as Movistar, VTR Globalcom (VTR), the GTD Group, Entel, Claro, and WOM.

Traditional fixed-line teledensity continues to fall as consumers switch to mobile networks and to fixed broadband for voice and data connectivity.

This report provides an overview of Chile’s telecom sector and regulatory environment, including a range of statistical data and market analyses. It covers the mobile voice and data segments, profiling operators and the key MVNOs, and assessing the development of LTE and 5G infrastructure. It also reviews the fixed-line and fixed-wireless broadband segments, including the status of DSL, cable, and fibre broadband.

BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. Since 2020 the telecoms sector, to various degrees, has experienced a downturn in mobile device production. It was also difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure.

Overall progress towards 5G has been 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, has offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect will continue to be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.

Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the pandemic, 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:

Regulator completes multi-band 5G spectrum auction, agrees to SpaceX providing its Starlink satellite broadband service;
América Móvil and Liberty Latam agree to combine their respective Chilean businesses VTR and Claro Chile in a 50:50 JV;
Chile makes progress with its ten-satellite National Satellite System;
América Móvil approves plan to spin off towers and passive infrastructure in Latin America;
Telefónica Empresas contracted for the final stretch of the country's National Fibre Optic initiative;
Regulator contracts for 398 free Wi-Fi zones in different parts of Chile;
More than 8,300 schools receive free broadband as part of the ‘Connectivity for Education 2030’ project;
Roaming fees between Argentina and Chile abolished;
Humboldt submarine cable project to link Chile with New Zealand and Australia;
Report update includes the regulator's market data update to June 2021, telcos’ financial and operating data to Q3 2021, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report

American Tower Corporation, VTR, Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ), Claro Chile, Ericsson, GTD Group (including Telsur, GTD Manquehue, Telesat, Telcoy), Huawei, DirecTV, CTR, CMET/Cable Central, Entel Chile, Grupo GTD, Mundo Pacifico, TuVes HD, Nextel, Nokia, VTR, Virgin Mobile, Falabella, Globalcom, WOM.

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

Historical overview
Regulatory authorities

Subtel
Superintendency of Telecommunications
CNTV

Fixed-line developments

Telecommunications Development Fund
Number Portability (NP)
Interconnect
Access
Network neutrality
Digital agenda 2013-2020

Mobile network developments

3G spectrum auctions
LTE spectrum auctions
5G spectrum auctions
3.5GHz
Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
Mobile Termination Rate (MTR)
Mobile towers
Roaming
SIM card registration

Mobile market

Mobile statistics
Mobile infrastructure

5G
4G (LTE)
3G
GSM
Other infrastructure developments
Machine-to-Machine (M2M)
Mobile voice
Mobile data
Mobile broadband

Mobile network operators

Entel Chile
Movistar (Telefónica Móviles Chile)
Claro Chile (América Móvil)
WOM (Nextel Chile)
VTR
Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)

Mobile content and applications

M-payments

Fixed-line broadband market

Market analysis
Broadband statistics
Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks

VTR
Claro

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks

Entel
Movistar

Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks

Telefónica

Other fixed broadband services

WiMAX
Satellite broadband

Competition issues

Network Neutrality Law
Minimum access speeds

Digital economy

e-Government
e-Commerce
e-Learning
Internet of Things (IoT)

Fixed network operators

Introduction

Local operators
Long-distance operators

Movistar (Telefónica Chile)
VTR
GTD Group

Telefónica del Sur (Telsur)

Entel Chile
Claro Chile (formerly Telmex)
WOM

Telecommunications infrastructure

Overview of the national telecom network

National Fibre Optic (FON)
Fibra Óptica Austral (FOA)
Fibra Óptica Tarapacá (FOT)
VoIP

International infrastructure

Submarine cable networks
Satellite networks

Wholesale
Data Centres

Appendix – Historic data
Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Chile – 2021 (e)
Table 2 – Change in the number of mobile and fixed-line subscribers (million) – 2011 – 2021
Table 3 – Change in the fixed and mobile market share of subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Table 4 – Telecom market investment – 2009 – 2018
Table 5 – Annual fixed number portings – 2012 – 2021
Table 6 – Annual mobile number portings – 2012 – 2021
Table 7 – Decline in the MTR – 2014 – 2018
Table 8 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2011 – 2026
Table 9 – Development of mobile network traffic – 2011 – 2021
Table 10 – Change in the number of mobile prepaid/postpaid subscribers (million) – 2010 – 2021
Table 11 – Change in the proportion of mobile prepaid/postpaid subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Table 12 – Change in the share of mobile subscribers by major operator – 2011 – 2021
Table 13 – Growth in the number of Movistar’s LTE subscribers and penetration – 2016 – 2019
Table 14 – Growth in the number of Entel Chile’s LTE subscribers – 2017 – 2021
Table 15 – M2M connections via mobile broadband – 2013 – 2021
Table 16 – Movistar Chile's M2M connections – 2014 – 2021
Table 17 – Decline in the number of SMS messages sent, annual change – 2011 – 2021
Table 18 – Decline in the number of MMS messages sent, annual change – 2010 – 2020
Table 19 – Change in operators’ market share of 3G internet connections – 2009 – 2021
Table 20 – Change in the number of mobile internet connections (million) by platform – 2009 – 2021
Table 21 – Change in the proportion of mobile broadband connections by technology – 2009 – 2021
Table 22 – Mobile broadband penetration by technology – 2009 – 2021
Table 23 – Change in mobile broadband market share by major players – 2013 – 2021
Table 24 – Mobile broadband market share by minor players – 2013 – 2021
Table 25 – Smartphones using mobile internet (million) – 2013 – 2021
Table 26 – Growth in mobile data traffic – 2017 – 2021
Table 27 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2011 – 2026
Table 28 – Growth in the number of Entel Chile’s mobile subscribers (million) – 2009 – 2021
Table 29 – Change in the number of Entel Chile’s mobile broadband subscribers – 2009 – 2021
Table 30 – Decline in Entel Chile’s mobile revenue – 2009 – 2021
Table 31 – Change in the number of Movistar’s mobile subscribers (million) – 2010 – 2021
Table 32 – Development of Movistar Chile’s mobile revenue (€ billion) – 2012 – 2019
Table 33 – Growth in Movistar Chile’s traffic by type – 2013 – 2019
Table 34 – Change in Movistar Chile’s mobile ARPU (€/month) – 2013 – 2019
Table 35 – Change in the number of Claro’s mobile subscribers (million) – 2009 – 2021
Table 36 – Development of Claro’s mobile revenue – 2009 – 2021
Table 37 – Growth in the number of WOM’s mobile subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Table 38 – Growth in the number of VTR’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 39 – MVNO subscribers by operator – 2011 – 2021
Table 40 – Virgin Mobile’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 41 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration – 2011 – 2026
Table 42 – Change in the number of fixed broadband subscribers by platform (million) – 2011 – 2021
Table 43 – Change in the market share of fixed broadband technologies by subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Table 44 – Change in the number of fixed broadband connections by speed (thousand) – 2011 – 2021
Table 45 – Change in operator market share of fixed broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Table 46 – Mobile and fixed-line internet subscribers (million) – 2009 – 2021
Table 47 – Decline in dial-up traffic – 2011 – 2021
Table 48 – Change in the number of cable modem subscribers and penetration – 2011 – 2021
Table 49 – Growth in the number of VTR’s fixed broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Table 50 – Growth in VTR’s revenue (CLP billion) – 2011 – 2021
Table 51 – Growth in the number of Claro’s broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Table 52 – Decline in the number of DSL subscribers and penetration – 2011 – 2021
Table 53 – Growth in the number of Entel’s broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Table 54 – Change in the number of Movistar’s fixed broadband subscribers – 2010 – 2021
Table 55 – Growth in the number of GTD Group’s broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Table 56 – Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Table 57 – Growth in the number of Movistar’s fibre broadband subscribers – 2014 – 2021
Table 58 – Decline in the number of WiMAX broadband subscribers – 2009 – 2021
Table 59 – Change in operator market share of fixed lines in service – 2011 – 2021
Table 60 – Decline in fixed-line local traffic (minutes and calls) – 2011 – 2021
Table 61 – Decline in the number of Movistar Chile’s fixed lines in service – 2010 – 2021
Table 62 – Development of Movistar Chile’s financial data (€ million) – 2009 – 2021
Table 63 – Decline in the number of VTR’s fixed-line subscribers – 2010 – 2021
Table 64 – Decline in the number of GTD Group’s fixed-line subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Table 65 – Decline in the number of Entel’s fixed-line subscribers – 2010 – 2021
Table 66 – Development of Entel Chile’s financial data (CLP billion) – 2014 – 2021
Table 67 – Change in the number of Claro’s fixed lines in service – 2011 – 2021
Table 68 – Development of Claro’s revenue by platform (CLP billion) – 2012 – 2021
Table 69 – Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2011 – 2026
Table 70 – Growth in international internet bandwidth – 2011 – 2018
Table 71 – Historic - Mobile and fixed-line subscribers (million) – 2005 – 2010
Table 72 – Historic - Change in the number of mobile prepaid/postpaid subscribers (million) – 2000 – 2010
Table 73 – Historic - Mobile prepaid/postpaid ratio – 2000 – 2010
Table 74 – Historic - Mobile network traffic – 2000 – 2010
Table 75 – Historic - Mobile market share of subscribers by major operators – 2000 – 2010
Table 76 – Historic - Fixed and mobile market share of subscribers – 1997 – 2010
Table 77 – Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 1995 – 2010
Table 78 – Historic - SMS messages sent, annual change – 2002 – 2010
Table 79 – Historic - Entel PCS mobile subscribers – 2000 – 2010
Table 80 – Historic - Movistar mobile subscribers – 2000 – 2010
Table 81 – Historic - Claro mobile subscribers – 2000 – 2010
Table 82 – Historic - Internet users and user penetration – 1998 – 2015
Table 83 – Historic - Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration rates – 2001 – 2010
Table 84 – Historic - Fixed broadband technologies by market share of subscribers – 2001 – 2010
Table 85 – Historic - Fixed broadband connections by data speed (thousand) – 2007 – 2010
Table 86 – Historic - Dial-up traffic (minutes and sessions) – 2000 – 2010
Table 87 – Historic - Cable modem subscribers and penetration rates – 2001 – 2010
Table 88 – Historic - VTR broadband subscribers – 2001 – 2010
Table 89 – Historic - DSL subscribers and penetration rate – 2001 – 2010
Table 90 – Historic - Fixed broadband operators’ market share of subscribers – 2007 – 2010
Table 91 – Historic - Movistar fixed broadband subscribers – 2001 – 2010
Table 92 – Historic - GTD Group fixed broadband subscribers – 2001 – 2010
Table 93 – Historic - Fixed lines in service - operators’ market share – 2000 – 2010
Table 94 – Historic - Fixed-line local traffic (minutes and calls) – 2000 – 2010
Table 95 – Historic - Movistar fixed lines in service – 2000 – 2010
Table 96 – Historic - VTR fixed-lines subscribers – 2000 – 2010
Table 97 – Historic - GTD Group fixed lines in service – 2000 – 2010
Table 98 – Historic - Entel fixed lines in service – 2000 – 2010
Table 99 – Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 1995 – 2010
Table 100 – Historic - International internet bandwidth – 2000 – 2010
Table 101 – Historic - Falabella Móvil mobile subscribers – 2013 – 2018
Table 102 – Historic - Growth in the number of WOM’s mobile subscribers – 2008 – 2010
Table 103 – Historic - Growth in the number of Claro’s broadband subscribers – 2007 – 2010
Table 104 – Historic - Growth in the number of Entel’s broadband subscribers – 2007 – 2010
Table 105 – Historic - Change in the number of Claro’s fixed lines in service – 2006 – 2010

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 – Change in the number of mobile and fixed-line subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Chart 11 – Change in the fixed and mobile market share of subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Chart 12 – Telecom market investment – 2009 – 2018
Chart 13 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2011 – 2026
Chart 14 – Development of mobile network traffic – 2011 – 2021
Chart 15 – Change in the number of mobile prepaid/postpaid subscribers – 2010 – 2021
Chart 16 – Change in the proportion of mobile prepaid/postpaid subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Chart 17 – Change in the share of mobile subscribers by major operator – 2011 – 2021
Chart 18 – Growth in the number of Movistar’s LTE subscribers and penetration – 2016 – 2019
Chart 19 – Decline in the number of SMS messages sent, annual change – 2011 – 2021
Chart 20 – Decline in the number of MMS messages sent, annual change – 2010 – 2020
Chart 21 – Change in operators’ market share of 3G internet connections – 2009 – 2021
Chart 22 – Change in the number of mobile internet connections by platform – 2009 – 2021
Chart 23 – Change in the proportion of mobile broadband connections by technology – 2009 – 2021
Chart 24 – Mobile broadband penetration by technology – 2009 – 2021
Chart 25 – Change in mobile broadband market share by major players – 2013 – 2021
Chart 26 – Smartphones using mobile internet – 2013 – 2021
Chart 27 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2011 – 2026
Chart 28 – Growth in the number of Entel Chile’s mobile subscribers – 2009 – 2021
Chart 29 – Change in the number of Entel Chile’s mobile broadband subscribers – 2009 – 2021
Chart 30 – Decline in Entel Chile’s mobile revenue – 2009 – 2021
Chart 31 – Change in the number of Movistar’s mobile subscribers – 2010 – 2021
Chart 32 – Development of Movistar Chile’s mobile revenue – 2012 – 2019
Chart 33 – Change in Movistar Chile’s mobile ARPU – 2013 – 2019
Chart 34 – Change in the number of Claro’s mobile subscribers – 2009 – 2021
Chart 35 – Development of Claro’s mobile revenue – 2009 – 2021
Chart 36 – Growth in the number of WOM’s mobile subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Chart 37 – Growth in the number of VTR’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 38 – MVNO subscribers by operator – 2011 – 2021
Chart 39 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration – 2011 – 2026
Chart 40 – Change in the number of fixed broadband subscribers by platform – 2011 – 2021
Chart 41 – Change in the market share of fixed broadband technologies by subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Chart 42 – Change in the number of fixed broadband connections by speed – 2011 – 2021
Chart 43 – Change in operator market share of fixed broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Chart 44 – Mobile and fixed-line internet subscribers – 2009 – 2021
Chart 45 – Change in the number of cable modem subscribers and penetration – 2011 – 2021
Chart 46 – Growth in the number of VTR’s fixed broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Chart 47 – Growth in VTR’s revenue – 2011 – 2021
Chart 48 – Growth in the number of Claro’s broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Chart 49 – Decline in the number of DSL subscribers and penetration – 2011 – 2021
Chart 50 – Growth in the number of Entel’s broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Chart 51 – Change in the number of Movistar’s fixed broadband subscribers – 2010 – 2021
Chart 52 – Growth in the number of GTD Group’s broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Chart 53 – Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Chart 54 – Change in operator market share of fixed lines in service – 2011 – 2021
Chart 55 – Decline in fixed-line local traffic (minutes and calls) – 2011 – 2021
Chart 56 – Decline in the number of Movistar Chile’s fixed lines in service – 2010 – 2021
Chart 57 – Development of Movistar Chile’s financial data (€ million) – 2009 – 2021
Chart 58 – Decline in the number of VTR’s fixed-line subscribers – 2010 – 2021
Chart 59 – Decline in the number of GTD Group’s fixed-line subscribers – 2011 – 2021
Chart 60 – Growth in the number of Entel’s fixed-line subscribers – 2010 – 2021
Chart 61 – Development of Entel Chile’s financial data – 2014 – 2021
Chart 62 – Change in the number of Claro’s fixed lines in service – 2011 – 2021
Chart 63 – Development of Claro’s revenue by platform – 2012 – 2021
Chart 64 – Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2011 – 2026

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 – Spectrum auction 700MHz band – February 2014
Exhibit 7 – Multi-spectrum auction results – March 2021
Exhibit 8 – Regions and primary zones in Chile
Exhibit 9 – Local telephony operators – number of zones of operation
Exhibit 10 – Submarine cable network links to Chile

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Chile Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

5G-suitable frequencies auctioned in Chile

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

Share this Report

TMT Intelligence

A platform to scale your intelligence tasks

Research Methodology

Hot Topics

News & Views