More choice and diversity in programming characterize a market where, of the 15 licenses granted, eight are in operation three are 'Preparing for Entry' and four have stopped operating.
According to statistics from the National Institute of Statistics and Census of the Comptroller General of the Republic, there are currently 919,000 TV users, of which 46% watch cable TV, ie there are 423,000 households with cable TV service.
Starting from very low levels, pay TV is growing in Central America, with 4.4 million subscribers foreseen by 2018.
"... In just four years between 2008 and 2012, all of the six Central American countries saw increases in the average subscription rates of pay TV from between 21.4% to 31.3% of households with televisions. Measured in nominal terms, it amounted to a net addition of nearly 1.15 million new subscribers during the period, going from 1.5 million customers at the end of 2008 to over 2.6 million by the end of 2012 .... this upward trend will continue in the medium term. Towards 2018, it is expected that over 40% of households with televisions in the region (4.4 million) will subscribe to a pay TV service, which still generates significant room for future growth. "
In 2015 Central America will sell $2 billion in paid television and broadband services, both wireless and cable.
A report from consulting company Signals Telecom foresees a battle in broadband services, as the average speeds offered in Central America are below South American and Caribbean averages.
They also expect competition to cause improvements in 3G coverage, and the introduction of more added value services.