At Mobile World Congress 2024 in Barcelona, Telefonica subsidiary Movistar Chile celebrated reaching 1.5 million 5G customers and announced ambitious plans for the future. The company announced a pilot project for 5G Standalone (SA) technology and a comprehensive update plan aimed at moving all residential broadband customers to fiber by the end of 2024. Additionally, Movistar Chile has declared a phase-out of public phone booths; Of a certain era.
5G expansion and technological advancements
Movistar Chile’s current achievement of 1.5 million 5G users sets an important milestone in the country’s digital evolution. The company has a commitment to expand its mobile network throughout 2024, with 70% of its mobile customers currently on its free 5G plans and a 40% increase in data consumption compared to 4G users. I emphasized what I was doing. In addition, two of his 5G Movistar Experience Laboratories will be opened at the Catholic University of Santisima Concepción and La Serena University to explore the potential of his 5G SA technology in various use cases.
fiber optic revolution
In an effort to improve connectivity and internet speeds across Chile, Movistar Chile has committed to connecting all fixed broadband subscribers to its fiber optic network by the end of 2024. More than 1.3 million homes will benefit from this transition from copper-based infrastructure to fiber optics. This initiative not only promises to provide customers with superior broadband connectivity, but also contributes to environmental sustainability by removing his 7,000 tonnes of copper from the streets. Its fiber network has already reached 4.4 billion households, and Movistar plans to expand its service to rural and remote areas, doubling the number of customers in these areas by the end of the year.
Embracing the future: The end of phone booths
The announcement of the decommissioning of public phone booths is a testament to Chile’s rapid technological progress and the proliferation of mobile and internet technologies. In 2023, Movistar Chile will remove more than 2,000 telephone booths in 11 regions, in line with its technology renewal plan. The plan not only highlights the company’s transition to modern communications solutions such as fiber and 5G connectivity, but also reflects changing consumer preferences and global trends towards digital communications.
As Movistar Chile moves towards the future with comprehensive fiber and 5G expansion plans, the impact on Chile’s digital landscape will be profound. Enhanced connectivity and faster internet speeds promise to foster innovation, improve access to information and foster economic development, especially in underserved areas. The company’s commitment to phasing out outdated technologies and adopting new ones underscores the inevitable progress towards a more connected and digitally inclusive society.
