Movistar and Tigo launch shared network in Colombia

Movistar Colombia announced the launch of its shared network with Tigo.

The integration of the firms' mobile networks into a jointly-owned company was unveiled in mid-2023 and approved this year. It includes their 2G, 3G and 4G networks.

The companies have also jointly bid for 5G spectrum and are carrying out a shared rollout of this technology.

Together, Movistar and Tigo serve nearly 35mn customers.

Coverage

The launch of the shared network will allow Movistar to significantly increase its 3G and 4G mobile coverage.

Controlled by Spanish giant Telefónica and with the Colombian State as a key minority shareholder, Movistar Colombia has been one of the operators with the lowest mobile coverage nationwide. In the last three years, Movistar was also the operator with the lowest number of sites deployed, according to ICT regulator CRC.

According to Movistar, as a result of the integration its number of 3G sites will increase from 5,000 to 8,000, while the 4G sites will grow from 6,000 to 10,000.

Movistar and Tigo have also jointly developed 98 5G sites, according to the regulator's June figures.

Tigo said in a release that the shared network will boost its nationwide mobile coverage by around 22%.

Claro is the operator with the largest number of sites deployed nationwide in all technologies with 10,157, followed by Tigo's 7,575, Movistar with 7,023, and WOM's 5,045.

Tigo parent Millicom said in July that it had signed a non-binding agreement with Telefónica for the potential acquisition of its Colombian subsidiary for US$400mn in cash.