Telefónica, Claro step up Peruvian fiber investments

Telefónica and Claro are accelerating fiber investments in Peru to confront rising competition from new service providers.

Roberto Bellido, Claro's deputy commercial director for the residential market, told newspaper Gestión that the company aims to cover at least 50% of homes with fiber next year.

According to company data, Claro has deployed the largest amount of fiber this year and aims to increase deployment in 2023. Claro covers 55 of Peru’s 60 biggest population centers.

Movistar, meanwhile, plans to reach 2mn homes passed with fiber this year. Pangea, the company’s fiber optics unit, plans to reach 4mn homes within three years.

According to Telefónica, 80% of new fiber optics customer are existing ones that migrate from older technologies.

At the end of the third quarter, close to 1mn Peruvian homes were connected to fiber optics, according to regulator Osiptel. Movistar claims to have a 40% share of the fiber household market.