After a resolution was issued for the reorganization of the 700 MHz band, Telecomunicaciones de Guatemala S.A. and the Human Rights Ombudsman's Office submitted appeals for revocation to the Superintendence of Telecommunications.
The controversy originated after Comunicaciones Celulares S.A. bought from Albavision in 2019 the usufruct titles that are immersed in the 700Mhz band. This transaction was made in the secondary market.
In Guatemala, the telephone company Tuenti reported that it will now be part of América Móvil, owner of the Claro brand, following the sale of Telefonica's shares in early 2019.
The application of tax of $0.65 per mobile phone line that had been proposed by the Executive to fund part of the 2015 budget has been temporarily suspended.
The Constitutional Court temporarily suspended the collection of the tax on telephone lines after the Chamber of Industry and the three phone companies operating in the country submitted an appeal against the tax.
In response to approval of a new tax of $0.65 per telephone line, operating companies have returned 6 million lines to the Telecommunications Superintendency.
Representatives from Claro, Tigo and Telefónica each returned 2 million inactive numbers with the aim of adjusting their internal policies to adapt to the new tax which will come into effect next year.
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 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 company Telefonica and the Movistar brand have launched commercial HSPA+ hardware in the country.
Salvador Montes de Oca, director of Marketing and Advertising at Movistar Guatemala told the media that HSPA + technology offers download speeds of up to 21 data megabits per second (Mbps) and 5.7 Mbps for sending information.
For his part, Manuel Barrera executive of Claro "announced last November 24 the company's transition to the use of such technology.
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%.
Telephony revenue increased 10.5% between 2008 and 2009; the sector represents 6.5% of GDP and 8.3% of tax revenue.
According to reports published by Pyramid Research, the telephone market in Guatemala generated revenue of $ 2.1 billion in 2009, of which $ 1.37 billion (66%) were generated by mobile services.
The numbers also show the remarkable growth experienced by mobile operators in recent years: 4.5 million mobile lines in 2005 to 17.3 million in 2009, meaning there are now 126 phones per 100 inhabitants.
The computer maker and the telecommunications company seek to double the region’s internet penetration.
Under the terms of the alliance, the companies will market plans for customers to acquire computers and internet access services with special financing programs, explained Jorge Castillo, commercial director at Claro Guatemala.
Castillo added that 4 of HP’s computers will be sold at Claro’s stores with internet access included.
In 2008, only 6 out of each 100 persons had internet access in Guatemala. The situation seems poised to change with the current competition in the 3G mobile market.
4 companies offer 21 different plans for wireless internet access, via devices containing a SIM card similar to those used by mobile cell phones, only that these devices only send and receive data using the same networks as mobile phones.
Despite the crisis, mobile phone lines continued growing in Guatemala, reaching 16 million after the first half of 2009.
Growth is expected to continue in the second semester, even surpassing the first half, as it is common for mobile phone lines to enjoy greater demand in the second halves of each year.
Claro and Tigo own the largest share of the market, with 37% each, followed by Telefónica with 25% according to data from the Telecommunications Superintendence.