Regulator: Guatemala Mobile Lines Up 59.2% in 2006

The number of mobile lines in Guatemala increased 59.2% in 2006 to end the year at 7.18mn compared to 4.51mn at end-2005, the country's telecoms regulator SIT said in a statement.

The rise was the single largest percentage growth rate for one year ever.

Leading the sector was Claro Guatemala, of América Móvil, which is still referred to by the regulator as Sercom, with a 41% market share.

Comcel Guatamala, which operates under Millicom International Cellular's Tigo brand, had a 32% market share and Movistar Guatemala, of Spain's Telefónica, had 27%.

Fixed lines for the same period grew 8.55% to 1.35mn at end-2006 compared to 1.25mn the same time last year.

Guatemala's mobile market continues to have mainly prepaid subscribers accounting for 90% of the total.

Tigo completed its migration to GSM last year while the other two operators had a mix of both GSM and CDMA.

The regulator said Guatemala has one of the lowest mobile rates in Central America at US$0.13 per minute compared to US$0.18 in Panama and US$0.25 in Honduras and El Salvador.

Posted to the site on 9th August 2007