95% of the 21 million handsets registered as operational in July 2013 are prepaid.
The data was released by the Superintendency of Telecommunications (SIT). "Of every 10 active phones, nine are prepaid and only one uses a payment plan by the company providing the service," reported Prensalibre.com.
According to these statistics, Tigo reports 9.6 million prepaid lines, ie 49% of all subscribers.
During 2012, mobile telephony saw a total of almost 21 million users, an increase of 6.7% compared to 2011.
According to statistics from the Superintendency of Telecommunications (SIT) in the past 9 years, mobile telephony has grown by 556%.
In 2003, Guatemala had more than three million subscribers, however, the figures indicate that as of 2009 the market stagnated and growth per year reduced to a million customers.
From the month of September recipients of remittances in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador will be able to receive them on their mobile phones.
By using a its cellular network platform, the Guatemalan company Tigo Money, a subsidiary of Tigo, will offer international services for money receipts.
Since early 2011, Tigo Money has been in the remittance business nationally in Guatemala.
Tigo announced yesterday that it will increase the number of Tigo Money agencies in Guatemala from 1400 to 2000, in order to reach populations without banking facilities in rural areas.
Tigo Money started as a remittance service that allows cost-effective money transfers to Tigo users in Guatemala, and it is now making preparations so that these agencies, which are installed in convenience stores, drugstores and gas stations in local communities, can also to pay microcredit.
From 3.1 million lines in 2004, mobile telephony in Guatemala has increased sevenfold, amounting to to 20.7 million lines at the end of 2011.
In the second half of 2011, more than two million new users were added to the market, making the number of users around the country at the end of December 2011 20.7 million, according to the Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones (SIT).
Growth rates are lower, and statistics show that there are 132 cell lines per 100 inhabitants, a fact that is leading phone companies to adopt new strategies for growth.
The growth rate of mobile telephony in Guatemala decreased from 2.5 million lines per year in 2005 to only about 460 thousand in 2010, a sign of market maturity. Today, Guatemala has 132 mobile phone lines per 100 inhabitants.
The increase in the number of mobile phone line users during the first half of 2011 was almost half a million.
As of 30 June, the total number of lines stood at 18,528,667, an increase of 5.7% compared to the same period in 2010, according to preliminary information from the Superintendency of Telecommunications (SIT).
The company Tigo has 43% of the cell phone market, followed by Claro, with 34% and Telefonica with 23.1%.
During 2010 the cell phone market registered only a 4% growth, compared to 15% in 2009.
According to the Telecommunications Superintendence, there are currently over 18 million subscribers, 1.22 cell phones per person.
Tigo controls 42.7% of the cell phone market, followed by Claro with 34.1% and Telefonica with 23.1%.
"Of the 18 million users, 17.1 million are using the prepaid-card system, while 966 thousand have a contract with an operator," reported Prensalibre.com.
Tigo Money can receive or send money transfers through its mobile phone platform.
Wiring cost is $ 0.04 for every $ 0.63 sent with a maximum of $ 126.
Juan Carlos Arriaga, director of TIGO Money, stated that they will begin with the service nationwide.
"To send money, the user finds an authorized Tigo agent, where he must fill out a form with personal information and the recipient's mobile number, give the money plus the wiring fee and wait for confirmation that the official transfer was performed. The beneficiary must go to a local TIGO agent and show the message in order to solicit money," reports the article in Elperiodico.com.gt.
America Movil (Claro) and Telefonica (Movistar) were the only ones to submit their cell phone service offerings.
By January 19th, 2011, the Evaluating Commission will open the bids and report to the Superintendence of Telecommunications (Sutel), after analyzing technical issues.
Through a spokesman, Cable & Wireless reported it will not participate.
Huawei announced that Millicom has selected them to develop an international long distance network in CA.
The new network will cover three countries: Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.
Huawei One Network Solution is a platform for international calls and long distance which was designed to support business models with an effective and reliable interconnectivity.
TIGO Honduras will preinstall select handsets with a customized version of mobile web browser Opera Mini.
This will allow users to download the customized mobile Web browser over the air from TIGO’s WAP portal, wap.tigo.com.hn, and operamini.com. Opera Mini for TIGO Honduras will feature Spanish menus and customized bookmarks.
Opera Mini for TIGO Honduras is localized to the enhance the region’s mobile browsing experience.
Tigo users will enjoy a customized version of Opera Mini mobile browser.
This version of Opera Mini for Tigo features menus in Spanish and more intuitive navigation.
"With Opera Mini for Tigo Guatemala, users will enjoy easier and faster mobile web browsing, because Opera Mini compresses the information transmitted via Internet", reported Prensalibre.com.
The company is aiming to extend its Internet coverage to the entire country in 2010.
This was reported by Tigo Honduras' President, Antonio Tavel Otero, who added that they intend to provide this service in areas still lacking electric energy.
Elheraldo.hn published further comments by Tavel Otero: "All together, the four telecom companies in the country could invest up to $350 million next year, a figure similar to that of 2009".