Internet Access Grows in Panama

The number of users has tripled over the past 5 years, from 422.000 in 2005 to 1.4 million in 2010.

Monday, March 21, 2011

As the number of customers rise, access speeds have increased and prices have dropped. A 4MB service is currently available for less than $ 20 a month and in certain locations at the capital, connections between 15 and 25 MB for residential use are offered.

"Diego Eleta, manager of Cable Onda, one of the first companies to offer fiber optic internet service in Panama, believes demand has soared in recent years because a high percentage of users are under 25 years, and this segment uses social networks such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter which demand higher speeds," reported Prensa.com.

The company invested $ 15 million over the last three years in platform technology, while rival Cable & Wireless invested $ 10 million to provide speeds of up to 25 MB.

While most of the high-speed access is via ADSL and cable modem, wireless connections are starting to become popular. Claro Panama informed Prensa.com that since 2009, it has invested $ 200 million on its 3.5 G network, which enables speeds of up to 21 MB.

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More on this topic

Costa Rica Also Lags Behind on Internet

September 2016

A report by Akamai highlights an 8.4% drop in the average connection speed in Costa Rica in the second quarter compared to the same period last year.

Between late 2014 and June this year, Costa Rica fell 20 positions in the ranking of broadband Internet, surpassing only Paraguay, Bolivia and Venezuela.  Panama recorded a slight growth of 1% in the period in question, while Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras, did not even figure in the report.

Boom in Cell Phone Data Creates Need For Network Expansion

December 2013

In order to meet the growing demand for mobile connectivity Cable and Wireless is expanding its cellular network in Panama City and Colon.

From a press release by Cable and Wireless Panama (CWP):

"The provider of wireless services has invested $50 million in upgrading the network implemented in 2011 and which serves much of the Panamanian population.

Telecommunications Market in Panama

August 2010

The entrance into the market by Digicel and Claro in 2009 has caused cellular telephony prices to fall and increased competition in promotions and special offers.

Overall, telecommunications sales in Panama are expected to exceed $1 billion in 2010, with most growth in broadband Internet and mobile phone services.

More Fiber Optic Investments in Panama

June 2010

Columbus Networks will invest $2 million to lay 100 km of fiber optic cable underground in Panama City.

The company plans to install a cable line that will run under the Southern Corridor road. It also owns the fiber optic cable known as ‘Arcos’, and has an ownership stake in another major communications cable, the one called Maya.

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