At the close of 2016, Comunicaciones Celulares S.A. had 52% of mobile phone users in operation, followed by Telecomunicaciones de Guatemala S.A. with 26% and Telefónica Móviles Guatemala S.A. with 22%.
The statistics bulletin for the second half of 2016, prepared by the Superintendency of Telecommunications, provides information on telephony and telecommunications in Guatemala concerning the operators: Commercial Network -ORC-, Local Network -ORL- and International Port-OPI-.
For the third time the date for submitting bids in the 70 MHz tender for the radio spectrum for international mobile technology services has been postponed.
For the third time, the deadline has been changed for submitting the proposals, after the operators interested in thetender filed appeals and objections against the tender conditions.
Of the 752,952 customers who in the past five years migrated from one provider to another in search of better quality and service, 94% correspond to mobile phones.
From a statement issued by the National Public Services Authority:
Five years after the implementation of Number Portability in Panama, figures show that to date 752,952 customers have migrated from one provider to another looking for a better quality of service and the best deals.
If the Sutel's proposal is approved, on December Costa Rica will eliminate the tariff regulation for the international telephone, internet and postpaid cellular telephony markets.
From a statement issued by the Superintendency of Telecommunications (Sutel):
The Superintendency of Telecommunications (Sutel), has started a process of public consultation of the technical analysis of the telecommunications markets.
Between 2013 and 2015 data traffic grew by 200%, and the state-owned ICE continued to lose its share in the mobile phone market, going from 62% in 2014 to 58% in 2015.
From the report "Statistics in the telecommunications sector 2015 ," by the Superintendency of Telecommunications (Sutel):
At the close of 2015, "... a total of 139 operators and suppliers authorized by the Sutel were recorded.
Businesses have denounced the arbitrariness with which municipalities are establishing rates and conditions for granting permits for setting up telecommunication towers.
The Chamber of Information and Communication Technology (Infocom) claims that the municipalities, citing their legal autonomy, are establishing their own conditions when companies request permits to install telecom towers in different areas.
The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad's share in the mobile phone market fell to 65%.
At the end of 2012 Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) owned a 79% stake in the mobile market, and this was reduced to 65% in September 2013. That portion of the market was taken over by the foreign competitors Claro and Movistar.
According to figures from the Telecommunications regulator mentioned in an article on Nacion.com , "up to September 2013 the ICE had 4,278,183 active lines, which represents an increase of 0.7 % compared to the 4,248,684 lines it had in the last quarter of 2012."
The arrival of new mobile services could be delayed if the uncertainty surrounding the renewal of licenses to mobile operators continues.
A report by the company GSMA, a firm that brings together more than 800 mobile operators in the world, presented a study which analyzes the state of the radio spectrum in Latin America and how the licenses are renewed for use in countries such as Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama.
In 2012, telecommunications companies had annual revenues of $939.2 million, of which $572.9 million correspond to the cell phone market.
Prensa.com reports that "until the end of last year there were 6.7 million subscribers to mobile phones, representing an increase of 123.3% compared to 2007 when there were 3 million active lines".
Regarding the payment, Panamanians mostly prefer the prepaid system, 93% of users use this format, while others maintain an annual contract with either company.
The President of Grupo Digicel has announced investments over the next eighteen months of more than $40 million.
In his short visit to El Salvador, Denis O'Brien was interviewed about the expansion, with topics covered such as the Salvadoran authorities refusal to authorize the sale of Digicel to Claro and the company’s future investments in the country.
After one year of competition in mobile communications, the changes that have taken place reveal a market that is different from how many expected.
The market transformation has been swift and contained surprising nuances. Cellular penetration swiftly exceeded 100%, while the use of mobile Internet exceeded forecasts.
Pablo Fonseca's article in Nacion.com reports that "Although more changes will come in the short and medium term, it is good to take stock. Many people were clear that the Costa Rican market was no ordinary market and had certain characteristics that needed to be taken into account when dealing with it, such as a thirst for technology, the level of information being handled, the requirements to be able to receive what is being offered and the level of spending willing to be made for a handset “
The telephone operators Claro and Movistar are still facing serious bureaucratic obstacles with the municipalities of Costa Rica over the installation of cellular towers.
Some municipalities are delaying, hindering or even prohibiting the installation of infrastructure by the operators Claro and Movistar, an operation which needs to be carried out in order to comply with their contracts.
Costa Rica businesses are insisting that they be granted the necessary permits for installation of cell phone towers that will enable quality communication services.
A communication from the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of Private Business Sector (UCCAEP) reads:
UCCAEP urges authorities to act to make privatisation of telecommunications a reality.
Since November 2010 installing a cell phone tower within 15 kilometers of a Costa Rican airport has required a detailed analysis and authorisation by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Prior to that date, the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) had no trouble installing the towers, but now the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has decided to adhere to international standards and make everyone endure the the red tape required for granting installation permits.