Chilean operator Entel claims to have extended its 5G coverage to all regions in the country, with the deployment currently 83% complete.
Manuel Araya, the operator’s Manager of Regulation and Corporate Affairs, said: “Our commitment has always been to bring 5G closer to the greatest number of Chileans, in the shortest possible time, and this is a significant step towards this goal. In fact, the speed of deployment of this technology has been significantly faster than in previous experiences.”
Entel claimed that Chileans have adopted 5G much more swiftly than previous technology generations, noting that 5G-compatible devices now account for around 50% of its smartphone sales. Around 600,000 of Entel’s customers own a 5G-capable device, and of these over 460,000 connected to its 5G network in May 2022. This figure represents nearly 6% of its total subscriber base.
Araya noted: “In the first technological change in 2006, from 2G to 3G, it took more than 3.5 years (45 months) for there to be 460,000 Entel customers connected. In the case of 4G, launched in 2014, reaching that same figure required approximately one year. And with 5G it was achieved in less than six months.”
TeleGeography reported that Entel has extended its 5G coverage to 222 of Chile’s 346 communes – the country’s smallest administrative division.
