Movistar said its 3G network sites will grow from 5,000 to 8,000, while its 4G network sites will increase from 6,000 to over 10,000
Colombian operators Movistar and Tigo have announced the launch of a unified mobile access network in the country, benefiting over 35 million mobile users shared between the two companies.
In a release, Movistar Colombia noted that the new network expands coverage to additional areas and enhances capacity and speed, resulting in improved internet navigation, application performance and call quality for users.
This initiative represents the integration of the mobile access infrastructures of Movistar and Tigo into a joint venture responsible for managing and expanding the network. Despite this collaboration, both companies will continue to operate as competitors.
The unified network will significantly increase the reach of both 3G and 4G technologies. Movistar said its 3G network sites will grow from 5,000 to 8,000, while its 4G network sites will increase from 6,000 to over 10,000.
This development aligns with the Colombian government’s target of achieving Internet access in 88% of the country’s municipalities. The expanded network is expected to facilitate access to information and digital services in areas such as education, healthcare, and financial inclusion, according to Movistar.
Movistar Colombia has implemented infrastructure-sharing mechanisms for fixed and mobile networks since 2013. These models have enabled more efficient and widespread network deployment. The shared network with Tigo allows for faster and more cost-effective expansion while maintaining service quality, the telco added.
Movistar, owned by Spanish telco Telefonica, launched 5G services in February 2024.
In an initial phase, Movistar said its 5G technology will be available in the main urban areas across the country.
Movistar Colombia had carried out seven pilots with 5G technology since 2020, mainly for health applications and in the fields of virtual reality and artificial intelligence (AI).
Colombian operators Claro, WOM, Tigo and Movistar all secured 5G licenses in a spectrum auction carried out in 2023 by Colombia’s ICT Ministry MinTIC.
Tigo and Movistar previously confirmed that they formed a joint venture (JV) to participate in the spectrum auction. The JV will be valid for a period of 22 years, counted from the date of the eventual granting of the spectrum use permit. Tigo and Movistar said they “will continue to act as independent market agents and there will be no restrictions to continue competing with each other.”
Each telco secured a block of 80 megahertz in the 3.5 GHz band, while Claro secured an additional block of spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band. The frequencies in the 700 MHz, 1.9 GHz and AWS remained unsold.
