ConvergencIA Data Center Forum 2026- 17 de noviembre
Monday, April 19, 2021

Connectivity increased in 2020 and fiber optic connections grew 62%

The statistical series provided by the Undersecretariat of Telecommunications reveal that the growth of fiber optic connections of 62% exceeds the average of the OECD member countries, which is 13.5%. 40.9% of all fixed connections are through fiber optics. Subtel attributes this achievement to the public-private investments that allowed doubling the kilometers of fiber optic available nationwide, from 18,000 to 36,000 km between Fibra Óptica Nacional and Fibra Óptica Austral.

There was also a 10.3% increase in fixed internet accesses, which reached 3.79 million as of December 2020, highlighting the growth of residential connections with 12.5%, which represented the largest annual increase since 2009 Commercial fixed connections registered a drop of 6.5%.

Mobile Internet grew 37.6% between 2019 and 2020. 3G + 4G mobile accesses reached 20.5 million, with a growth of 8.1% in the last 12 months, that is, 1,532,040 new accesses. 4G connections represent 90.4% of mobile internet accesses, with 18.5 million connections.

In mobile telephony, the growth trend of contract subscribers continues, reaching 14.9 million numbers as of December 2020, obtaining an increase of 11.3% compared to the 13.4 million registered in 2019. Prepaid subscribers, on the other hand, registered 10.1 million numbers, thus decreasing 12.9% compared to the 11.6 million recorded in 2019.

Fixed telephony continued its downward trend since 2016. As of December 2020, lines decreased by 6.6% in the last 12 months.

Pay television registered an increase of 1.4%, reaching a penetration of 16.7 subscribers per 100 inhabitants and 57.8% of households.

In Chile there are 55.2 million telecommunications services as of December 2020, a figure higher than the 54 million in 2019.

Last news and analysis

Argentina · Smartphones & Devices · Software and Applications

19/06/2026

Huawei: Sales revenue grew 11.8% in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay in 2025

Brasil · Operators

19/06/2026

Alares acquires Oquei Telecom for US$36.6 million

Brasil · Submarine Cables

18/06/2026

Submarine cables as a crucial element of the digital economy's development

The Anatel has opened a public consultation on a proposal establishing specific rules for these transmission systems, including regulatory clarity and legal certainty for investments, among other measures

Globales · Operators · Equipment Providers and Network Solutions

17/06/2026

Ericsson Mobility Report: 5G subscriptions reach 3.1 billion as differentiated connectivity drives service growth

A total of 84 operators now offer network slicing. Services based on differentiated connectivity have moved beyond the early adoption phase and into widespread commercialization.

Search news