Mobile data use rises 28% nationwide during the first half

By Entel

This is an automated translation of the press release issued in Spanish

September 21, 2023. In recent years, Internet use has grown significantly as a result of the ease of accessing multiple contents and applications with just one click. This, added to the quality of Entel's network and the good browsing experience, explains the sustained growth that its customers' use of mobile data continues to have.

According to the latest study carried out by the technology and telecommunications company on the consumption behavior of its subscriber base, mobile data use grew by 28% during the first half of this year, compared to the first six months of 2022. A At the national level, it went from 822,348,178 gigabytes (GB) used in 2022 to 1,056,538,578 GB trafficked until last June. And in this context, the growth in the regions of Magallanes, Antofagasta and Tarapacá stands out, where strong increases of 62%, 59% and 58% respectively were recorded.

2022 was the year of the emergence of 5G and two weeks ago Entel officially delivered 100% of Phase II of its fifth generation network technical project, with which it already has a presence in all regions and 311 communes.

The reality is that people's interest in this new technology continues to grow, which is reflected in their preference when choosing equipment that is connected to this technology and, at the same time, in the significant increase in data traffic over networks. 5G. The numbers speak for themselves.

The fifth generation network marked notable increases. The use of 5G data nationwide was seven times more than the first half of 2022, as a result of the greater deployment of this network nationwide. Along these lines, the main increases were recorded in the regions of Aysén (905 times), Atacama (93 times) and Antofagasta (78 times).

“The quality of the connectivity service that we offer to our customers is a crucial issue for Entel and that is why during 2022, and so far this year, we strengthened our 4G and 5G networks, especially to reach fifth generation technology those most remote places in the country. On the other hand, to ensure our customers a first-class browsing experience, it is also necessary to advance in the process of technological evolution of our networks. That is why we announced a couple of months ago the gradual shutdown of the 2G network, in order to make more efficient and effective use of the spectrum and, thus, advance inclusive digitalization," said Entel's Regulation and Corporate Affairs manager, Manuel Araya.

According to the executive, this explains why as of June of this year they have a market share of 37.1% in mobile internet traffic, which places them as industry leaders according to the latest sector report published by the Undersecretary of Telecommunications.

Most used apps

Entel's analysis also provides information on the behavior of its customers, regarding the use of mobile applications in everyday life and the digital trends that 'are driving it'.

According to the company's latest study, 80% of the data consumed is done in just six applications. Instagram, YouTube and Facebook continue to be the most used apps with 21%, 14% and 13.7% respectively. They are followed by Tik Tok (12%), HTTPS (11%) and Netflix, with about 8.5%. With a lower percentage, Google Play, Google Common, Spotify and PlayStation were in the Top 10.

Compared to the first half of 2022, as of June of this year, the growth of apps related to download platforms and public transportation continued, with an increase of 158% and 144% respectively. These include Google Play, App Store, Google Maps and Waze GPS. Other sectors that showed an increase were social networks (141%), work (125%), streaming (112%) and gaming (112%). For their part, applications associated with purchases fell 26%.