Movistar Venezuela is a telecommunications company operating in Venezuela, and it is a subsidiary of the Spanish multinational telecommunications company, Telefónica. The company was established following Telefónica's acquisition of the BellSouth mobile operations branch in South America in 2005. The Movistar brand, which Telefónica had used in Spain since 1995, was then applied globally, including in Venezuela. Despite Telefónica's acquisition of O2 in the same year, the Movistar brand was maintained in Hispanic American countries. This decision resulted in the company operating under its own board and management structure, separate from the "O2" brand used in the United Kingdom and Germany. Movistar Venezuela has been a major player in the Venezuelan telecommunications sector, offering a range of mobile services including 2G, 3G, and 4G data services, along with international roaming and various value-added services.
Country
Venezuela
Type
Mobile Network Operator
Ownership
Telefónica Group
Telefonica Logo

3G Network

Movistar Venezuela launched its 3G services on December 9 2008, expanding its network to cover 26 cities. The network utilised the UMTS frequency band B2 (1900 MHz PCS). Over the years, Movistar continued to enhance its 3G network capabilities, providing mobile voice, data, and messaging services. However, in line with global trends towards newer technologies, Movistar began the process of shutting down its 3G network on July 1, 2022. This move was part of a broader strategy to phase out older technologies and focus on expanding 4G and future 5G services.

Network Frequency Band Status
B2 (1900 MHz)
Active
Date Event Subtype
Launch of 3G Network
Launch

4G Network

The company commercially launched LTE services using AWS spectrum on February 19, 2015, with initial coverage in the metropolitan area of Caracas and Puerto la Cruz. The LTE network operated on LTE Band 4 (1700/2100 MHz AWS 1), known for its balance between capacity, density, and penetration/range. This band supported mobile voice, data, and messaging services and was widely supported by high-end and many mid-range handsets. In December 2014, Venezuela's telecom regulator Conatel granted 4G spectrum licences to Movistar, Movilnet, and DirecTV's Galaxy Entertainment. The auction raised US$730 million, with licences valid for up to 15 years. The government tendered two frequency blocks in the 1,710-2,170 MHz band and four blocks in the 2,500-2,690 MHz band, with rollout conditions requiring 70% population coverage by 2019. Movistar continued to expand its LTE footprint, strengthening its network with over 1,300 deployment actions by June 2024.

4G Frequency Bands
Network Frequency Band Status Known EARFCNs
B4 (1700 MHz)
Active
2200
B5 (850 MHz)
Active
2425
B7 (2600 MHz)
Active
3050
Date Event Subtype
Launch of 3G Network
Launch

5G Network

As of September 2023, Movistar Venezuela had begun exploring 5G technology. The company presented its initial 5G applications at the Feria Internacional de Telecomunicaciones de Venezuela (Fitelven), showcasing advancements in the most advanced mobile connectivity technology globally. The focus was on strengthening telecommunications infrastructure to enhance 4G capabilities while preparing for a future 5G rollout. Movistar's 5G trials included the use of an assistive robot named Willbot, demonstrating the potential of 5G technology. However, as of December 2024, Movistar had not yet commercially launched 5G services, and the focus remained on infrastructure development and testing.

Date Event Subtype