Uruguay Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Publication Date: April 2024

Report Pages: 133

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Regulator allows competition to Antel in the fixed broadband sector

Uruguay has an advanced telecom market, with excellent infrastructure and one of the highest broadband penetration rates in Latin America. Fixed-line teledensity is also particularly high for the region, while mobile penetration is the second highest after Panama. In terms of computer penetration, Uruguay tops all other countries in the region by a considerable margin, and this has facilitated growth in fixed-line broadband adoption.

The government and telecom regulator have introduced a range of measures to help develop the deployment of fibre infrastructure, partly in a bid to encourage economic growth and stimulate e-commerce. Fibre accounted for about 77% of all fixed and fixed-wireless broadband connections as of June 2020. With investment projected to reach $800 million, the state-owned incumbent Antel is expected to provide national FttP coverage by early 2022. Together with the FttP network, the opening of the submarine cable system (Bicentenario) in early 2012 and the Tannat cable in August 2017 have helped boost Uruguay’s internet bandwidth, and increase the data rate available to end-users.

Uruguay is one of the very few Latin American countries where the local fixed-line market is neither privatised nor liberalised. Antel has a monopoly in the provision of local telephony and fixed broadband services. Other segments of the telecom market have been opened to competition, including international long-distance telephony, mobile telephony, and fixed-wireless broadband.

Uruguay is also one of the few countries in the world where broadband access via cable modem does not exist. Although cable networks are well equipped technologically, and digital cable TV is widely available, telecom legislation prohibits data transmission over pay TV networks. However, the government announced in December 2020 that it intended to introduce changes to the law to permit pay TV providers to offer internet and telephony packages over their own networks.

The mobile market is dominated by Antel, with Telefónica’s Movistar in second place and América Móvil’s Claro third. All three operators offer mobile broadband through 3G and LTE networks. Operators have achieved nationwide 3G coverage and the number of mobile broadband subscribers continues to grow. Antel has been at the forefront with LTE services, though the auction of multi-band spectrum in August 2017 has also enabled Movistar and Claro to widen the reach of their LTE offers.

In April 2019 Antel launched a commercial 5G network, though limited in reach. At the end of 2019, spectrum in the 5G-suitable range was auctioned, enabling operators to launch 5G services. The regulator is working on a spectrum and connectivity policy that emphasises 5G.

Key developments:

Legal challenge to restrictions on fixed broadband provision breaks the monopoly held by Antel;
MNOs contract with the new MNP administrator;
Google signs contract to build the Firmina subsea cable connecting the US with Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay;
América Móvil spins off towers and other related passive infrastructure in its Latin American markets;
Antel plans to invest $152 million in fixed and mobile operations;
Legislative changes may permit pay TV operators to offer broadband using private networks;
Uruguay enacts Law 19,889/2020 stipulating that MNP is a right for mobile telephony customers, plans to appoint an administrator;
Over 11,844km of fibre cable installed throughout the country, with FttP accounting for over 77% of all fixed-line broadband connections;
Tannat cable extended to Argentina;
Report includes the regulator's market data to December 2020, telcos' operating and financial data to Q4 2021, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

América Móvil, Antel, Claro Uruguay, Dedicado, Eutelsat, Google, Loral Spacecom Corporation, Hispasat, Millicom International Cellular (MIC), Movistar Uruguay, New Skies Satellites, Panamsat Corporation, SES Americom, Telesat Canada, Telxius.

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
Telecommunications market

Historical overview
Market analysis

Regulatory environment

Regulatory authority
Fixed-line developments

Telecom sector liberalisation in Uruguay
Privatisation
Media Law – December 2014
Ceibal Plan
Internet for All (Universal Hogares)
Universal Telecommunications Fund (FUT)
Roaming

Mobile network developments

Spectrum allocations and spectrum auctions
Spectrum auction – 2013
Spectrum auction – 2017
5G-suitable spectrum – 2019
5G-suitable spectrum – 2022
SIM card registration
Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
Interconnection

Mobile market

Market analysis
Mobile statistics
Mobile data

Short Message Service (SMS)

Mobile broadband
Mobile infrastructure

5G
4G (LTE)
3G
Mobile satellite

Major mobile operators

Antel
Movistar (Telefónica)
Claro (América Móvil)

Fixed-line broadband market

Market analysis
Broadband statistics

Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks

Digital economy

Internet of Things (IoT)
Electronic payments

Fixed network operators

Antel

Telecommunications infrastructure

Overview of the national telecom network
International infrastructure

Submarine cable networks
Satellite

Infrastructure developments

Fixed-wireless and Wireless Local Loop (WLL)

Wholesale

Appendix – Historic data
Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities – Uruguay – 2021 (e)
Table 2 – Evolution of GDP in Uruguay – 2012 – 2022
Table 3 – Ratio of mobile to fixed-line phones – 2012 – 2021
Table 4 – Development of mobile market revenue – 2012 – 2021
Table 5 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 2012 – 2027
Table 6 – Mobile operators’ market share of mobile voice subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 7 – Change in mobile voice traffic – 2012 – 2021
Table 8 – Change in the ratio of prepaid to postpaid subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 9 – Change in the number of prepaid and contract mobile subscribers (million) – 2012 – 2021
Table 10 – Decline in SMS traffic – 2012 – 2021
Table 11 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 12 – Change in the number of mobile internet subscribers by speed – 2011 – 2018
Table 13 – Proportion of mobile internet connections by speed – 2011 – 2018
Table 14 – Change in the number of base stations by technology – 2017 – 2021
Table 15 – Change in the number of Antel’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 16 – Change in the number of Movistar Uruguay mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 17 – Movistar Uruguay mobile revenue and financial data (€ million) – 2012 – 2019
Table 18 – Change in the number of Claro’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 19 – Change in the number of internet users and rate – 2012 – 2022
Table 20 – Change in the number of fixed and fixed wireless broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 21 – Change in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers by platform – 2012 – 2021
Table 22 – Change in fixed broadband services by data rate – 2018 – 2021
Table 23 – Change in the fixed broadband operators’ market share – 2012 – 2021
Table 24 – Change in fixed broadband subscribers by technology – 2012 – 2021
Table 25 – Fixed-line services revenue – 2012 – 2021
Table 26 – Decline in fixed-line traffic to mobile networks – 2012 – 2021
Table 27 – Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2012 – 2027
Table 28 – Change in the number of public payphones – 2012 – 2021
Table 29 – Historic - Evolution of GDP in Uruguay – 2000 – 2011
Table 30 – Historic - Telecommunications contribution to GDP – 2005 – 2017
Table 31 – Historic - Telecommunications services revenue – 2010 – 2016
Table 32 – Historic - Telecom share of revenue by segment – 2005 – 2016
Table 33 – Historic - Investment in telecommunications – 2013 – 2016
Table 34 – Historic - Fixed-line services revenue – 2008 – 2011
Table 35 – Historic - Fixed-line national traffic – 2011 – 2016
Table 36 – Historic - Fixed-line traffic to mobile networks – 2005 – 2011
Table 37 – Historic - Fixed and fixed wireless broadband subscribers and penetration rates – 2005 – 2011
Table 38 – Historic - International internet bandwidth – 2002 – 2017
Table 39 – Historic - Fixed broadband operators’ market share – 2008 – 2011
Table 40 – Historic - Mobile market revenue – 2008 – 2011
Table 41 – Historic - Mobile voice traffic – 2008 – 2011
Table 42 – Historic - Active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration rates – 2008 – 2011
Table 43 – Historic - Antel - mobile subscribers – 2002 – 2011
Table 44 – Historic - Historic - Movistar Uruguay - mobile subscribers – 2002 – 2011
Table 45 – Historic - Claro - mobile subscribers – 2004 – 2011
Table 46 – Historic - Fixed-line national traffic – 2008 – 2011

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 – Ratio of mobile to fixed-line phones – 2012 – 2021
Chart 11 – Development of mobile market revenue – 2012 – 2021
Chart 12 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 2012 – 2027
Chart 13 – Mobile operators’ market share of mobile voice subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 14 – Change in mobile voice traffic – 2012 – 2021
Chart 15 – Change in the ratio of prepaid to postpaid subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 16 – Change in the number of prepaid and contract mobile subscribers (million) – 2012 – 2021
Chart 17 – Decline in SMS traffic – 2012 – 2021
Chart 18 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 19 – Change in the number of mobile internet subscribers by speed – 2011 – 2018
Chart 20 – Change in the number of base stations by technology – 2017 – 2021
Chart 21 – Change in the number of internet users and rate – 2012 – 2022
Chart 22 – Change in the number of fixed and fixed wireless broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 23 – Change in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers by platform – 2012 – 2021
Chart 24 – Change in fixed broadband subscribers by technology – 2012 – 2021
Chart 25 – Fixed-line services revenue – 2012 – 2021
Chart 26 – Decline in fixed-line traffic to mobile networks – 2012 – 2021
Chart 27 – Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2012 – 2027
Chart 28 – Change in the number of public payphones – 2012 – 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 Uruguay
Exhibit 7 – Spectrum auction results – 2019
Exhibit 8 - Licensed ILD operators in Uruguay
Exhibit 9 – Submarine cable network links to Uruguay in 2021

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Uruguay Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

Regulator allows competition to Antel in the fixed broadband sector

Key developments:

Companies mentioned in this report:

Key statistics

Regional Latin America Market Comparison

Country overview

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