Dominican telecoms roundup: US$1.5bn in telecoms FDI since 2010

Internet accounts in the Dominican Republic jumped by over 2,191% in the 10 years to October 2018, to 7.4mn, and the country has received foreign direct investments in its dynamic telecommunications sector totaling US$1.5bn so far this decade, the chief of the country's telecoms regulator Indotel was quoted as saying by local media.

The internet figure represents around a 70% access to internet among the island nation's over 10mn inhabitants, while total telephone lines have increased by 23% from 2008 figures to 10.1mn, of which 8.9mn are mobile lines, the executive, Luis Molina, added.

The percentage of the population over 5 years of age using the internet in the country stood at 67.6%, increasing by 44% in the last 10 years, Molina added. Pay TV services have also grown significantly during the period, with accounts growing 572% to 801,937.

The Dominican Republic occupies the 25th place in terms of telecommunications development in the ITU's IDI index for 2017 in the Americas, a full 10 places above last-placed Haiti, its neighbor country.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON ICT PROJECTS

Indotel also launched this week a public consultation on telecom development projects for the 2019-20 period, aimed at increasing access to infrastructure, promote productivity and train human capital in the sector.

The Indotel said in a statement that it is looking at connected communities projects, digital inclusion and public Wi-Fi initiatives, as well as specific projects such as an climate alert network for vulnerable agricultural areas, among others.

The projects included in the consultation could end up receiving financing from a telecoms development fund set up by the government, it added.

CLARO UNCHALLENGED BY MERGERS

Despite the advances on coverage and access to technology and a significant growth in mobile lines over the last year, América Móvil's local unit Claro remains unchallenged in the country as the leader in telecommunications, regional telecoms news outlet Telesemana said.

Not even the strengthening of Netherlands-based Altice after merging its units Tricorn and Orange in 2017 dented the Mexican company's leadership in the Dominican Republic, it added. América Móvil's CEO recently announced investments of around US$1bn for the country over the next three years.

"The country closed October with 8.8mn mobile lines, 231,000 more than a year before, of which 75% are prepaid. Claro leads... with a total of 4.9mn lines or 56% (of the market)," Telesemana added. Altice reported 3.4mn lines," the report said. The country's third player, Viva, recorded 538,000 mobile lines.