Colombia - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband

Despite the harsh impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the country's population and economy, Colombia's telecom sector had a solid year thanks to positive performances in the fixed-line broadband, mobile broadband, and mobile voice and data markets.

Colombia's fixed-line penetration remained stable by the end of 2020, though began to increase into 2021 as a result of the particular demands on households resulting from government measures associated with addressing the pandemic. However, at less than 15% it is well below the Latin American average. The mobile market, by contrast, reached a penetration rate of 136% (an increase of over three percentage points on 2019) and managed to keep the same upward growth trajectory that it has sustained over the last ten years. The fixed-line broadband market also expanded, with the number of subscribers increasing 11.4%, and with revenue increasing 9.9% thanks to increased data usage as many customers were forced to work or study from home during the year.

The mobile broadband market was the standout performer in 2020, with a 13% increase in the number of subscribers year-on-year, albeit the penetration rate is relatively low compared to other Latin American countries. Most significant of all was the surge in mobile broadband traffic - a 51% increase over the previous year - which was again a reflection of the strict lockdowns that Colombians had to endure for much of 2020.

Market leader Claro continued to expand its dominance of the mobile broadband market, increasing its share over the last decade by 10% to reach 54% at the start of 2021. Tigo, conversely, has seen its share halved over the same period of time, yet its subscriber base has still managed to grow on the back of a strong overall market. Tigo also suffered the most from Colombia's imposed lockdowns in 2020, severely impacting its retail sales (a 20% decline in revenue) with nearly half of its stores being forced to close.

Key Developments:

Movistar and Claro awarded spectrum in the 3.5GHz band for 5G trials;

Colombia determines internet access to be an essential service;

MinTIC proses raising spectrum caps to promote 5G, with delayed 5G auction expected to be held by August 2022.

Avantel acquired by Novator Partners, including 2.3 million subscribers.

MVNO Virgin Mobile fined COP131.67 million for non-compliance with SIC administrative orders regarding protecting users' rights.

Fixed-line broadband download speeds increase a 98.2% in the year to June 2021, thanks to investments in fibre.

Setroc becomes another MVNO, using Movistar's infrastructure.

ANE and MinTIC issue Spectrum Policy 2020-2024, aimed at aligning spectrum management across the two agencies.

This report includes the regulator's market data reports to June 2021, telcos' financial and operating data updates up to Q3 2021, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector, and other 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, Edatel, Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Santa Fe de Bogotá (ETB), Setroc.

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

Regulatory environment

Regulatory authorities
- Communications Regulations Commission (CRC, previously CRT)
- ANTV
Legislation
- Convergence Decree
- 2009 ICT Law
- Universal Service Fund
- Licensing
Fixed network developments
- Access
- Number Portability (NP)
- Multi-carrier system/Carrier PreSelection (CPS)
- Subsidies
Mobile network developments
- Spectrum regulations and auctions
- Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
- Mobile Termination Rate (MTR)
- Roaming
Wholesale

Mobile market

Mobile statistics
Mobile infrastructure
- 5G
- 4G (LTE)
- 3G
- GSM
- Other infrastructure developments
- Mobile data
- Mobile broadband
Major mobile operators
- Claro (Comcel/América Móvil)
- Movistar (Telefónica/Colombia Telecomunicaciones)
- Tigo Colombia (Colombia Móvil/Millicom, EPM, ETB)
- Avantel
- UNE
- Mobile Virtual Network Operators

Fixed-line broadband market

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

Major network operators

Movistar (Telefónica Telecom/Colombia Telecom)
ETB
Tigo Colombia
Claro (Telmex Colombia/América Móvil)

Telecommunications infrastructure

National telecom network
International infrastructure
- Submarine cable networks
- Terrestrial links
- Satellite networks

Appendix - Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 - Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Colombia - 2021 (e)
Table 2 - Evolution of GDP in Colombia - 2011 - 2025
Table 3 - Change in the proportion of fixed and mobile connections - 2011 - 2020
Table 4 - Telecom market revenue - 2011 - 2019
Table 5 - Increase in the number of mobile numbers ported - 2011 - 2021
Table 6 - Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Table 7 - Change in the market share of mobile operators - 2011 - 2020
Table 8 - Change in the number of prepaid/postpaid mobile subscribers (million) - 2011 - 2020
Table 10 - Change in the average revenue from prepaid/postpaid mobile subscribers (COP/subscriber/month) - 2017 - 2020
Table 11 - Growth in mobile voice traffic - 2011 - 2021
Table 12 - Decline in mobile voice revenue - 2011 - 2021
Table 13 - Growth in the number of LTE mobile internet subscribers - 2012 - 2021
Table 14 - Change in the number of 3G mobile internet subscribers - 2012 - 2021
Table 15 - Change in the number of GSM mobile internet subscribers - 2012 - 2021
Table 16 - Growth in the number of Movistar's M2M connections - 2013 - 2019
Table 17 - Decline in annual SMS traffic - 2012 - 2021
Table 18 - Decline in annual SMS revenue - 2012 - 2021
Table 19 - Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Table 20 - Change in the number of mobile broadband accesses by technology (million) - 2017 - 2020
Table 21 - Development of municipal coverage by mobile technology - 2017 - 2019
Table 22 - Growth in mobile broadband traffic - 2012 - 2021
Table 23 - Development of mobile broadband revenue - 2012 - 2021
Table 24 - Change in the number of mobile broadband subscriptions by technology (million) - 2011 - 2021
Table 25 - Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers by operator (thousand) - 2013 - 2021
Table 26 - Change in the share of mobile broadband subscribers by operator - 2012 - 2021
Table 27 - Change in the number of Claro Colombia's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2021
Table 28 - Development of Claro Colombia's service revenue (COP billion) - 2011 - 2021
Table 29 - Development of Claro Colombia's financial data (COP billion) - 2011 - 2021
Table 30 - Growth in the number of Movistar's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Table 31 - Development of Movistar Colombia's mobile financial data (€ million) - 2011 - 2021
Table 32 - Growth in the number of Tigo Colombia's mobile subscribers - 2010 - 2021
Table 33 - Growth in the number of Tigo Colombia's subscribers (MinTIC data) - 2011 - 2020
Table 34 - Development of Tigo Colombia's financial data ($ million) - 2010 - 2021
Table 35 - Change in the number of Avantel's mobile subscribers - 2013 - 2020
Table 36 - MNVO share of mobile subscribers - 2013 - 2020
Table 37 - Change in the number of ETB's mobile subscribers - 2013 - 2020
Table 38 - Growth in the number of Virgin Mobile's subscribers - 2013 - 2020
Table 39 - Change in the number of Móvil Éxito's mobile subscribers - 2013 - 2020
Table 41 - Growth in fixed-line internet service revenue - 2012 - 2021
Table 42 - Change in the market share of broadband lines by technologies - 2012 - 2021
Table 43 - Change in the number of broadband subscribers by major operator (thousand) - 2012 - 2021
Table 44 - Change in the broadband market share by major operators - 2012 - 20d21
Table 45 - Growth in the number of cable broadband subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2021
Table 46 - Growth in the number of Movistar's broadband subscribers (company data) - 2015 - 2020
Table 47 - Decline in the number of DSL subscribers and penetration rate - 2011 - 2021
Table 48 - Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers - 2012 - 2021
Table 49 - Growth in the number of ETB's fibre broadband subscribers by type- 2015 - 2021
Table 50 - Change in the number of WiMAX broadband subscribers - 2015 - 2021
Table 51 - Change in the number of satellite broadband subscribers - 2013 - 2021
Table 52 - Share of fixed lines in service (major operators) - 2012 - 2021
Table 53 - Change in the number of Movistar's fixed lines in service (regulator data) - 2011 - 2021
Table 54 - Change in Movistar's financial data (€ million) - 2011 - 2021
Table 55 - Decline in the number of ETB's lines in service - 2011 - 2021
Table 56 - Change in ETB's share of subscriptions by services (Bogota) - 2015 - 2021
Table 57 - Development of ETB's financial data (COP billion) - 2012 - 2021
Table 58 - Change in ETB's operating revenue by service (COP billion) - 2015 - 2021
Table 59 - Change in the number of Tigo Une's fixed lines in service - 2011 - 2021
Table 60 - Change in the number of Claro's fixed lines in service - 2011 - 2021
Table 61 - Development of Claro's revenue by sector (COP billion) - 2011 - 2021
Table 62 - Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity - 2011 - 2026
Table 63 - Decline in fixed-line voice traffic (billion minutes) - 2018 - 2021
Table 64 - Decline in fixed-line voice revenue (COP billion) - 2018 - 2021
Table 65 - Historic - Evolution of GDP in Colombia - 2000 - 2010
Table 66 - Historic - Fixed and mobile market share of connections - 2000 - 2010
Table 67 - Historic - Telcom market revenue - 2001 - 2010
Table 68 - Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate - 1997 - 2010
Table 69 - Historic - Market share of mobile operators - 2001 - 2010
Table 70 - Historic - Active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration - 2008 - 2010
Table 71 - Historic - Mobile prepaid/postpaid ratio - 2005 - 2010
Table 72 - Historic - Claro Colombia mobile subscribers - 2001 - 2010
Table 73 - Historic - Movistar mobile subscribers - 2001 - 2010
Table 74 - Historic - TigoUne mobile subscribers - 2003 - 2010
Table 75 - Historic - Uff! mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2018
Table 76 - Historic - UNE-EPM mobile subscribers - 2012 - 2017
Table 77 - Historic - Internet users and user penetration rates - 1997 - 2012
Table 78 - Historic - Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration rates - 2002 - 2010
Table 79 - Historic - Market share of broadband lines by technologies - 2003 - 2010
Table 80 - Historic - Cable modem subscribers and penetration rates - 2003 - 2010
Table 81 - Historic - DSL subscribers and penetration rates - 2003 - 2010
Table 82 - Historic - Share of fixed lines in service (major operators) - 2000 - 2010
Table 83 - Historic - ETB's fixed lines in service - 2000 - 2010
Table 84 - Historic - Movistar's fixed lines in service (regulator data) - 2000 - 2010
Table 85 - Historic - Tigo Une's fixed lines in service - 2000 - 2010
Table 86 - Historic - UNE - 2015 - 2017
Table 87 - Historic - Claro's fixed lines in service - 2006 - 2010
Table 88 - Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity - 1996 - 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 proportion of fixed and mobile connections - 2011 - 2020
Chart 11 - Telecom market revenue - 2011 - 2019
Chart 12 - Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Chart 13 - Change in the market share of mobile operators - 2011 - 2020
Chart 14 - Change in the number of prepaid/postpaid mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Chart 15 - Change in the proportion of prepaid/postpaid mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Chart 16 - Change in the average revenue from prepaid/postpaid mobile subscribers - 2017 - 2020
Chart 17 - Decline in mobile voice revenue - 2012 - 2021
Chart 18 - Growth in the number of LTE mobile internet subscribers - 2012 - 2021
Chart 19 - Change in the number of 3G mobile internet subscribers - 2012 - 2021
Chart 20 - Change in the number of GSM mobile internet subscribers - 2012 - 2021
Chart 21 - Decline in annual SMS traffic - 2012 - 2021
Chart 22 - Decline in annual SMS revenue - 2012 - 2021
Chart 23 - Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Chart 24 - Change in the number of mobile broadband accesses by technology - 2017 - 2020
Chart 25 - Growth in mobile broadband traffic - 2012 - 2021
Chart 26 - Development of mobile broadband revenue - 2012 - 2021
Chart 27 - Change in the number of mobile broadband subscriptions by technology - 2011 - 2021
Chart 28 - Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers by operator - 2013 - 2021
Chart 29 - Change in the share of mobile broadband subscribers by operator - 2012 - 2021
Chart 30 - Change in the number of Claro Colombia's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2021
Chart 31 - Development of Claro Colombia's service revenue - 2011 - 2021
Chart 32 - Development of Claro Colombia's financial data - 2011 - 2021
Chart 33 - Growth in the number of Movistar's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Chart 34 - Development of Movistar Colombia's mobile financial data - 2011 - 2021
Chart 35 - Growth in the number of Tigo Colombia's mobile subscribers - 2010 - 2021
Chart 36 - Development of Tigo Colombia's financial data - 2010 - 2021
Chart 37 - Change in the number of Avantel's mobile subscribers - 2013 - 2020
Chart 38 - Change in the number of ETB's mobile subscribers - 2013 - 2020
Chart 39 - Growth in the number of Virgin Mobile's subscribers - 2013 - 2020
Chart 40 - Change in the number of Móvil Éxito's mobile subscribers - 2013 - 2020
Chart 41 - Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Chart 42 - Growth in fixed-line internet service revenue - 2012 - 2021
Chart 43 - Change in the market share of broadband lines by technologies - 2012 - 2021
Chart 44 - Change in the number of broadband subscribers by major operator - 2012 - 2021
Chart 45 - Change in the broadband market share by major operators - 2012 - 2021
Chart 46 - Growth in the number of cable broadband subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2021
Chart 47 - Growth in the number of Movistar's broadband subscribers (company data) - 2015 - 2020
Chart 48 - Decline in the number of DSL subscribers and penetration rate - 2011 - 2021
Chart 49 - Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers - 2012 - 2021
Chart 50 - Growth in the number of ETB's fibre broadband subscribers by type - 2015 - 2021
Chart 51 - Change in the number of WiMAX broadband subscribers - 2015 - 2021
Chart 52 - Change in the number of satellite broadband subscribers - 2013 - 2021
Chart 53 - Share of fixed lines in service (major operators) - 2012 - 2021
Chart 54 - Change in the number of Movistar's fixed lines in service (regulator data) - 2011 - 2021
Chart 55 - Change in Movistar's financial data - 2011 - 2021
Chart 56 - Decline in the number of ETB's lines in service - 2011 - 2021
Chart 57 - Development of ETB's financial data - 2012 - 2021
Chart 58 - Change in ETB's operating revenue by service - 2015 - 2021
Chart 59 - Change in the number of Tigo Une's fixed lines in service - 2011 - 2021
Chart 60 - Change in the number of Claro's fixed lines in service - 2011 - 2021
Chart 61 - Development of Claro's revenue by sector - 2011 - 2021
Chart 62 - Change 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 - Map of Colombia
Exhibit 7 - Spectrum allocations - 1993
Exhibit 8 - 4G auction results - 2013

Colombia - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Description

Table of Contents

List of Tables

Colombian telcos fend off Covid-19 constrictions with positive results

Key Developments:

Companies mentioned in this report:

Table of Contents

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

Major network operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Appendix - Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

List of Tables

List of Charts

List of Exhibits