Argentina slower than most countries in Latin America to develop a 5G roadmap
Argentine’s telecom regulator waited until the ITU WRC-19 conference in October 2020 before determining that it would auction spectrum in the 600MHz band for 5G use in late-2021, followed by spectrum in the 3.4-3.8GHz range in 2022. Spectrum in the higher bands (24GHz and 28GHz) will not become available for auction until at least 2023.
However, the regulator has enabled mobile operators to test their 5G capabilities under a range of trial licenses. Movistar and Ericsson performed the first trial using 28GHz mmWave spectrum in 2017, while Telecom Personal worked with Nokia in 2018 to trial 5G using 400MHz of spectrum in the same band. The company then switched to Huawei for trials in Córdoba in 2019, providing data rates of up to 1.8Gb/s.
Telecom Personal ultimately became the first MNO to activate 5G services in Argentina, in February 2021, initially in areas of Buenos Aires and Rosaria. Instead of waiting for the 5G spectrum auctions to be completed, Telecom Personal has launch 5G services using re-farmed LTE spectrum.
Table of Contents
Key statistics
Country overview
Appendix Historic dataGlossary of abbreviationsRelated reports
Regional Latin America Market Comparison
- Market characteristics
- Market Leaders
- Market Challengers
- Market Emergents
- TMI versus GDP
- Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
- Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration
COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector
- Economic considerations and responses
- Subscribers
- Infrastructure
Telecommunications market
- Market analysis
Regulatory environment
- Regulatory authority
- Fixed-line developments
- Mobile network developments
Mobile market
- Mobile statistics
- Mobile infrastructure
- Major mobile operators
Fixed-line broadband market
- Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks
- Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
- Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
- Other fixed broadband services
Digital economy
- E-government
- E-education
- E-commerce
- Online banking
Fixed network market
- Major fixed-network operators
Telecommunications infrastructure
- National telecom network
- International infrastructure
- Wholesale
List of Tables
Table 1 Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Argentina 2021 (e)
Table 2 Evolution of GDP in Argentina 2011-2021
Table 3 Telecom revenue by segment (ARS billion) 2013-2021
Table 4 Telecom sector ARPU by segment (ARS / month) 2013-2021
Table 5 Investment by sector (ARS billion) 2013-2019
Table 6 Change in annual mobile numbers ported 2012-2021
Table 7 Change in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Table 8 Annual change in the number of mobile subscribers 2011-2026
Table 9 Change in mobile operators' market share 2011-2021
Table 10 Change in the number of prepaid and postpaid mobile subscribers (million) 2013-2021
Table 11 Change in the ratio of mobile prepaid/postpaid subscribers 2013-2021
Table 12 Growth in mobile market revenue and investment (ARS million) 2013-2021
Table 13 Development of annualised mobile ARPU 2013-2021
Table 14 Growth in mobile voice traffic (billion minutes) 2013-2021
Table 15 Growth in the number of Movistar's LTE subscribers and penetration 2016-2019
Table 16 Increase in the number of LTE base stations in service 2015-2020
Table 17 Decline in SMS traffic 2011-2021
Table 18 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration rate 2011-2026
Table 19 Growth in the number of Claro's mobile subscribers 2011-2021
Table 20 Growth in Claro's wireless revenue 2009-2021
Table 21 Change in Telecom Personal's mobile subscribers and annual change 2011-2021
Table 22 Change in the number of Telecom Personal's prepaid, contract, mobile broadband subscribers (million) 2013-2021
Table 23 Change in Telecom Personal's mobile ARPU 2012-2021
Table 24 Development of Telecom Personal's mobile service revenue (ARS million) 2012-2021
Table 25 Personal - mobile data and voice usage per month 2013-2021
Table 26 Change in the number of Movistar's mobile subscribers 2011-2019
Table 27 Development of Movistar's mobile revenue ( million) 2009-2019
Table 28 Decline in Movistar's blended mobile ARPU 2008-2019
Table 29 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Table 30 Change in broadband market share by technology 2011-2021
Table 31 Decline in the number of dial-up subscriptions 2011-2021
Table 32 Growth in fixed internet services revenue 2013-2021
Table 33 Change in the number of fixed broadband connections by access speed 2014-2021
Table 34 Average fixed internet access speed 2014-2021
Table 35 Fixed internet services ARPU 2013-2021
Table 36 Growth in the number of cable broadband subscribers and penetration 2011-2021
Table 37 Change in the number of DSL subscribers and penetration rate 2011-2021
Table 38 Change in the number of Movistar's broadband subscribers 2011-2019
Table 39 Growth in the number of Telecom Argentina's broadband subscribers 2011-2021
Table 40 Change in Telecom Argentina's broadband ARPU 2011-2021
Table 41 Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers 2012-2021
Table 42 Growth in the number of fixed wireless broadband connections 2010-2021
Table 43 Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2011-2026
Table 44 Decline in fixed-line household teledensity 2013-2021
Table 45 Fixed telephony ARPU (ARS) 2011-2021
Table 46 Development of Telefónica de Argentina's financial data ( million) 2009-2021
Table 47 Decline in the number of Telefónica de Argentina's fixed lines in service (million) 2011-2019
Table 48 Development of Telefónica de Argentina's annualised fixed ARPU (/month) 2016-2019
Table 49 Development of Telecom Argentina's financial data (ARS billion) 2011-2021
Table 50 Development of Telecom Argentina's capex and EBITDA (ARS billion) 2017-2021
Table 51 Growth in Telecom Argentina's domestic revenue by service (ARS billion) 2011-2021
Table 52 Change in the number of Telecom Argentina's fixed lines 2011-2021
Table 53 Growth in the number of Telmex's fixed-line subscriptions 2009-2021
Table 54 Development of Telmex's fixed-line financial data (ARS million) 2011-2021
Table 55 Historic - Evolution of GDP in Argentina 2000-2010
Table 56 Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity 1996-2010
Table 57 Historic - Telecom Argentina fixed lines in service 2000-2010
Table 58 Historic - Telefónica de Argentina fixed lines in service (million) 2000-2010
Table 59 Historic - International bandwidth 2000-2010
Table 60 Historic - Movistar wholesale accesses 2005-2017
Table 61 Historic - Internet users and user penetration 1996-2015
Table 62 Historic - Fixed-line internet subscribers and penetration rates 2000-2010
Table 63 Historic - DSL subscribers and penetration rates 2001-2010
Table 64 Historic - Cable modem subscribers and penetration rates 2001-2010
Table 65 Historic - Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration rates 2001-2010
Table 66 Historic - Movistar broadband subscribers 2001-2010
Table 67 Historic - Broadband market share by provider 2003-2014
Table 68 Historic - FiberTel broadband subscribers 2003-2016
Table 69 Historic - Telecom Argentina - broadband subscribers 2003-2010
Table 70 Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration 1998-2010
Table 71 Historic - Nextel mobile revenue 2012-2015
Table 72 Historic - Nextel mobile ARPU 2012-2015
Table 73 Historic - Mobile operators' market share 1999-2010
Table 74 Historic - Nextel - mobile subscribers 2002-2015
Table 75 Historic - Telecom Personal mobile subscribers, annual change 1999-2010
Table 76 Historic - Movistar - mobile subscribers 1999-2010
Table 77 Historic - Claro - mobile subscribers 1999-2010
Table 78 Historic - Change in broadband market share by technology 2001-2010
Table 79 Historic - Decline in SMS traffic 2007-2010
Table 80 Historic - Decline in the number of dial-up subscriptions 2008-2010
Table 81 Historic - Growth in international internet bandwidth 2010-2017
Table 2 Evolution of GDP in Argentina 2011-2021
Table 3 Telecom revenue by segment (ARS billion) 2013-2021
Table 4 Telecom sector ARPU by segment (ARS / month) 2013-2021
Table 5 Investment by sector (ARS billion) 2013-2019
Table 6 Change in annual mobile numbers ported 2012-2021
Table 7 Change in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Table 8 Annual change in the number of mobile subscribers 2011-2026
Table 9 Change in mobile operators' market share 2011-2021
Table 10 Change in the number of prepaid and postpaid mobile subscribers (million) 2013-2021
Table 11 Change in the ratio of mobile prepaid/postpaid subscribers 2013-2021
Table 12 Growth in mobile market revenue and investment (ARS million) 2013-2021
Table 13 Development of annualised mobile ARPU 2013-2021
Table 14 Growth in mobile voice traffic (billion minutes) 2013-2021
Table 15 Growth in the number of Movistar's LTE subscribers and penetration 2016-2019
Table 16 Increase in the number of LTE base stations in service 2015-2020
Table 17 Decline in SMS traffic 2011-2021
Table 18 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration rate 2011-2026
Table 19 Growth in the number of Claro's mobile subscribers 2011-2021
Table 20 Growth in Claro's wireless revenue 2009-2021
Table 21 Change in Telecom Personal's mobile subscribers and annual change 2011-2021
Table 22 Change in the number of Telecom Personal's prepaid, contract, mobile broadband subscribers (million) 2013-2021
Table 23 Change in Telecom Personal's mobile ARPU 2012-2021
Table 24 Development of Telecom Personal's mobile service revenue (ARS million) 2012-2021
Table 25 Personal - mobile data and voice usage per month 2013-2021
Table 26 Change in the number of Movistar's mobile subscribers 2011-2019
Table 27 Development of Movistar's mobile revenue ( million) 2009-2019
Table 28 Decline in Movistar's blended mobile ARPU 2008-2019
Table 29 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Table 30 Change in broadband market share by technology 2011-2021
Table 31 Decline in the number of dial-up subscriptions 2011-2021
Table 32 Growth in fixed internet services revenue 2013-2021
Table 33 Change in the number of fixed broadband connections by access speed 2014-2021
Table 34 Average fixed internet access speed 2014-2021
Table 35 Fixed internet services ARPU 2013-2021
Table 36 Growth in the number of cable broadband subscribers and penetration 2011-2021
Table 37 Change in the number of DSL subscribers and penetration rate 2011-2021
Table 38 Change in the number of Movistar's broadband subscribers 2011-2019
Table 39 Growth in the number of Telecom Argentina's broadband subscribers 2011-2021
Table 40 Change in Telecom Argentina's broadband ARPU 2011-2021
Table 41 Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers 2012-2021
Table 42 Growth in the number of fixed wireless broadband connections 2010-2021
Table 43 Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2011-2026
Table 44 Decline in fixed-line household teledensity 2013-2021
Table 45 Fixed telephony ARPU (ARS) 2011-2021
Table 46 Development of Telefónica de Argentina's financial data ( million) 2009-2021
Table 47 Decline in the number of Telefónica de Argentina's fixed lines in service (million) 2011-2019
Table 48 Development of Telefónica de Argentina's annualised fixed ARPU (/month) 2016-2019
Table 49 Development of Telecom Argentina's financial data (ARS billion) 2011-2021
Table 50 Development of Telecom Argentina's capex and EBITDA (ARS billion) 2017-2021
Table 51 Growth in Telecom Argentina's domestic revenue by service (ARS billion) 2011-2021
Table 52 Change in the number of Telecom Argentina's fixed lines 2011-2021
Table 53 Growth in the number of Telmex's fixed-line subscriptions 2009-2021
Table 54 Development of Telmex's fixed-line financial data (ARS million) 2011-2021
Table 55 Historic - Evolution of GDP in Argentina 2000-2010
Table 56 Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity 1996-2010
Table 57 Historic - Telecom Argentina fixed lines in service 2000-2010
Table 58 Historic - Telefónica de Argentina fixed lines in service (million) 2000-2010
Table 59 Historic - International bandwidth 2000-2010
Table 60 Historic - Movistar wholesale accesses 2005-2017
Table 61 Historic - Internet users and user penetration 1996-2015
Table 62 Historic - Fixed-line internet subscribers and penetration rates 2000-2010
Table 63 Historic - DSL subscribers and penetration rates 2001-2010
Table 64 Historic - Cable modem subscribers and penetration rates 2001-2010
Table 65 Historic - Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration rates 2001-2010
Table 66 Historic - Movistar broadband subscribers 2001-2010
Table 67 Historic - Broadband market share by provider 2003-2014
Table 68 Historic - FiberTel broadband subscribers 2003-2016
Table 69 Historic - Telecom Argentina - broadband subscribers 2003-2010
Table 70 Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration 1998-2010
Table 71 Historic - Nextel mobile revenue 2012-2015
Table 72 Historic - Nextel mobile ARPU 2012-2015
Table 73 Historic - Mobile operators' market share 1999-2010
Table 74 Historic - Nextel - mobile subscribers 2002-2015
Table 75 Historic - Telecom Personal mobile subscribers, annual change 1999-2010
Table 76 Historic - Movistar - mobile subscribers 1999-2010
Table 77 Historic - Claro - mobile subscribers 1999-2010
Table 78 Historic - Change in broadband market share by technology 2001-2010
Table 79 Historic - Decline in SMS traffic 2007-2010
Table 80 Historic - Decline in the number of dial-up subscriptions 2008-2010
Table 81 Historic - Growth in international internet bandwidth 2010-2017
List of Charts
Chart 1 Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index Market Leaders
Chart 2 Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index Market Challengers
Chart 3 Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index Market Emergents
Chart 4 Latin America - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
Chart 5 Latin America Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 South America mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 7 Central America mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 8 South America Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 9 Central America Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 10 Telecom revenue by segment (ARS) 2013-2021
Chart 11 Telecom ARPU by segment (ARS) 2013-2021
Chart 12 Telecom investment by segment (ARS) 2013-2019
Chart 13 Change in annual mobile numbers ported 2012-2021
Chart 14 Change in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Chart 15 Change in mobile market share by operator 2011-2021
Chart 16 Change in the number of prepaid and postpaid mobile subscribers 2013-2021
Chart 17 Change in the ratio of mobile prepaid/postpaid subscribers 2013-2021
Chart 18 Growth in mobile market revenue and investment 2013-2021
Chart 19 Growth in mobile voice traffic 2013-2021
Chart 20 Growth in the number of Movistar's LTE subscribers and penetration 2016-2019
Chart 21 Increase in the number of LTE base stations in service 2015-2020
Chart 22 Decline in SMS traffic 2011-2021
Chart 23 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration rate 2011-2026
Chart 24 Growth in the number of Claro's mobile subscribers 2011-2021
Chart 25 Growth in Claro's wireless revenue 2009-2021
Chart 26 Change in Telecom Personal's mobile subscribers and annual change 2011-2021
Chart 27 Change in the number of Personal's prepaid and contract subscribers 2013-2021
Chart 28 Change in Telecom Personal's mobile ARPU 2012-2021
Chart 29 Development of Telecom Personal's mobile service revenue 2012-2021
Chart 30 Change in the number of Movistar's mobile subscribers 2011-2019
Chart 31 Development of Movistar's mobile revenue 2009-2019
Chart 32 Decline in Movistar's blended mobile ARPU 2008-2019
Chart 33 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Chart 34 Change in broadband market share by technology 2011-2021
Chart 35 Growth in fixed internet services revenue 2013-2021
Chart 36 Change in the number of fixed broadband connections by access speed 2014-2021
Chart 37 Growth in the number of cable broadband subscribers and penetration 2011-2021
Chart 38 Change in the number of DSL subscribers and penetration 2011-2021
Chart 39 Change in the number of Movistar's broadband subscribers 2011-2019
Chart 40 Growth in the number of Telecom Argentina's broadband subscribers 2011-2021
Chart 41 Change in Telecom Argentina's broadband ARPU 2011-2021
Chart 42 Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers 2012-2021
Chart 43 Growth in the number of fixed wireless broadband connections 2010-2021
Chart 44 Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2011-2026
Chart 45 Decline in fixed-line household teledensity 2013-2021
Chart 46 Development of Telefónica de Argentina's financial data 2009-2021
Chart 47 Decline in the number of Telefónica de Argentina's fixed lines in service 2011-2019
Chart 48 Development of Telecom Argentina's financial data 2011-2021
Chart 49 Growth in Telecom Argentina's domestic revenue by service 2011-2021
Chart 50 Change in the number of Telecom Argentina's fixed lines 2011-2021
Chart 51 Growth in the number of Telmex's fixed-line subscriptions 2009-2021
Chart 52 Development of Telmex's fixed-line financial data 2011-2021
Chart 2 Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index Market Challengers
Chart 3 Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index Market Emergents
Chart 4 Latin America - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
Chart 5 Latin America Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 South America mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 7 Central America mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 8 South America Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 9 Central America Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 10 Telecom revenue by segment (ARS) 2013-2021
Chart 11 Telecom ARPU by segment (ARS) 2013-2021
Chart 12 Telecom investment by segment (ARS) 2013-2019
Chart 13 Change in annual mobile numbers ported 2012-2021
Chart 14 Change in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Chart 15 Change in mobile market share by operator 2011-2021
Chart 16 Change in the number of prepaid and postpaid mobile subscribers 2013-2021
Chart 17 Change in the ratio of mobile prepaid/postpaid subscribers 2013-2021
Chart 18 Growth in mobile market revenue and investment 2013-2021
Chart 19 Growth in mobile voice traffic 2013-2021
Chart 20 Growth in the number of Movistar's LTE subscribers and penetration 2016-2019
Chart 21 Increase in the number of LTE base stations in service 2015-2020
Chart 22 Decline in SMS traffic 2011-2021
Chart 23 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration rate 2011-2026
Chart 24 Growth in the number of Claro's mobile subscribers 2011-2021
Chart 25 Growth in Claro's wireless revenue 2009-2021
Chart 26 Change in Telecom Personal's mobile subscribers and annual change 2011-2021
Chart 27 Change in the number of Personal's prepaid and contract subscribers 2013-2021
Chart 28 Change in Telecom Personal's mobile ARPU 2012-2021
Chart 29 Development of Telecom Personal's mobile service revenue 2012-2021
Chart 30 Change in the number of Movistar's mobile subscribers 2011-2019
Chart 31 Development of Movistar's mobile revenue 2009-2019
Chart 32 Decline in Movistar's blended mobile ARPU 2008-2019
Chart 33 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Chart 34 Change in broadband market share by technology 2011-2021
Chart 35 Growth in fixed internet services revenue 2013-2021
Chart 36 Change in the number of fixed broadband connections by access speed 2014-2021
Chart 37 Growth in the number of cable broadband subscribers and penetration 2011-2021
Chart 38 Change in the number of DSL subscribers and penetration 2011-2021
Chart 39 Change in the number of Movistar's broadband subscribers 2011-2019
Chart 40 Growth in the number of Telecom Argentina's broadband subscribers 2011-2021
Chart 41 Change in Telecom Argentina's broadband ARPU 2011-2021
Chart 42 Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers 2012-2021
Chart 43 Growth in the number of fixed wireless broadband connections 2010-2021
Chart 44 Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2011-2026
Chart 45 Decline in fixed-line household teledensity 2013-2021
Chart 46 Development of Telefónica de Argentina's financial data 2009-2021
Chart 47 Decline in the number of Telefónica de Argentina's fixed lines in service 2011-2019
Chart 48 Development of Telecom Argentina's financial data 2011-2021
Chart 49 Growth in Telecom Argentina's domestic revenue by service 2011-2021
Chart 50 Change in the number of Telecom Argentina's fixed lines 2011-2021
Chart 51 Growth in the number of Telmex's fixed-line subscriptions 2009-2021
Chart 52 Development of Telmex's fixed-line financial data 2011-2021
List of Exhibits
Exhibit 1 Map of Telecom Maturity Index global ranking among countries in Latin America
Exhibit 2 Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 3 Latin America Market Leaders and market developments
Exhibit 4 Latin America Market Challengers and market developments
Exhibit 5 Latin America Market Emergents and market developments
Exhibit 6 Map of Argentina
Exhibit 2 Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 3 Latin America Market Leaders and market developments
Exhibit 4 Latin America Market Challengers and market developments
Exhibit 5 Latin America Market Emergents and market developments
Exhibit 6 Map of Argentina
