What's in store for Ecuador's mobile market

The launch of 5G networks and the renewal of spectrum licenses for private operators could finally become a reality in Ecuador in 2025. 

National mobile operator CNT obtained permits for the deployment of 5G networks and is planning to start offering 5G services this half, telecommunications minister César Martín told a local radio station. 

The minister did not provide any further details about CNT’s 5G project. 

With 3.3mn lines and an 18% market share, CNT is the third largest mobile operator in the country, according to figures from regulator Arcotel as of end-October. 

The main operator is America Movil's Claro with 9.8mn connections and a 53.3% market share. Second was Telefónica's Movistar with 5.3mn mobile lines and a 28.7% share. 

Both Movistar and Claro are renegotiating their spectrum licenses with the government, after several extensions. 

“We… are sure there will soon be news... which will undoubtedly be very positive news for Ecuador,” Telefonica’s wholesale and public affairs leader, José Juan Haro, told local newspaper El Universo recently. 

Private operators want to renew their licenses, which expired in 2023, for 15 years.

Martín believes an agreement could be reached in the next two months, after being delayed in December. 

Meanwhile, the valuation of the radioelectric spectrum was approved by regulator Arcotel’s board and negotiations with operators have already taken place, Martín said. 

Once the private operators receive the license extension, they can ask for new spectrum to deploy 5G networks. “We also aspire to acquire the 5G spectrum to bring that technology to Ecuador,” Haro said. 

Ecuador is one of the Latin American countries with the smallest amount of spectrum assigned to mobile operators at 330MHz, according to 5G Americas.