Panama’s Additional Cable Connectivity to Improve Broadband from 2019
The Panama - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses report includes all relevant publisher research data and analysis. Covering trends and developments in telecommunications, mobile, internet, broadband, infrastructure and regulation. Please review the Executive Summary and Table of Contents for more details.
Table of Contents
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Executive Summary
Panama’s telecom sector sees further consolidationPanama was one of the last countries in Latin America to offer mobile telephony. The first service began in 1996 with the launch of BellSouth Panama’s network, followed by C&WP in 1998. These two operated as a duopoly for many years, holding mobile concessions exclusively. In 2004, Telefónica took over BellSouth’s licence and operations, and the market then became a duopoly between Telefónica and C&WP until the exclusivity period ended in 2007. Soon afterwards, new licences were awarded to Digicel and América Móvil.
Consolidation in the market started with the acquisition of C&WP by Liberty Global. This was followed in 2019 when Tigo Panama (which had started as a provider of fixed-line services) acquired Telefónica’s business in Panama, and so branched into the mobile segment.
In late 2021, Liberty Latin America reached an agreement with América Móvil to acquire Claro Panamá for $200 million. The deal will significantly increase C&WP’s presence and coverage in Panama’s mobile market and put it on a par with Tigo Panama in terms of market share.
Companies Mentioned
- Cable & Wireless Panamá
- Tigo (Cable Onda/Telecarrier)
- ClaroCOM (Galaxy Communications Corp)
- Optynex Telecom
- Movistar
- Ufinet