Bolivia, located in South America, is primarily made up of mountainous highlands and spreads its population unevenly, with many residing in the western parts of the country. This makes the implementation of standard telecommunications infrastructure challenging due to geographical constraints. Nevertheless, Bolivia has made remarkable progress in the field of telecommunications, having launched its own communication satellite, Túpac Katari (TKSat-1), to improve internet, television, and telephone services across its territories, including in rural and remote areas. In urban areas, internet cafes and mobile technology are quite prevalent, demonstrating a significant adoption of technology by Bolivians despite inherent geographical challenges.
Mobile Network Operators
The are 3 companies operating mobile networks in this region.
Entel Bolivia, formally known as Empresa Nacional de Telecomunicaciones, is a prominent state-owned telecommunications company based in La Paz, Bolivia. The company was established under Law Decree N° 7441 on December 22, 1965, and was initially a joint-stock company with representation in Bolivia. The following year, Entel Bolivia transitioned to a decentralised public company, operating under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Aeronautics. In 1995, Telecom Italia acquired a 50% share in Entel and took over its management. However, the Bolivian government...
Tigo Bolivia, a subsidiary of Millicom International Cellular SA, operates under the umbrella of a Luxembourg-based telecommunications services provider. Millicom operates in nine Latin American markets, including Bolivia, under the Tigo and Tigo Business brands, offering a variety of digital services. Telefónica Celular de Bolivia commenced operations in November 1990 in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, branded then as Telecel. In 2005, Telecel was acquired by Tigo and the company subsequently rebranded to the new parent. Tigo stands today as the second-largest mobile network in Bolivia.
VIVA, originally known as Nuevatel PCS, is a telecommunications company operating in Bolivia. The company was established in 1999 as a joint venture between Western Wireless Corporation, owning a 72% stake, and COMTECO, a telecommunications cooperative from Cochabamba, holding a 28% share. In 2005, following a merger agreement between Western Wireless and Alltel, Western Wireless founders John W. Stanton and Theresa Gillespie created Trilogy International Partners, retaining Nuevatel as part of their assets. As of March 28, 2022, Trilogy sold its 71.5% stake in the company to Balesia...