The 4G connections in Latin America have grown 121 percent to 113 million in 2016, representing 17 percent of total connections, from 51 million a year earlier.
The growth rate in 4G subscriber base in Latin America was almost twice the global average, said GSMA. Telecom operators’ investment in 4G networks and services were the growth driver.
The number of 4G connections is forecast to surpass 300 million by 2020, accounting for almost 40 per cent of total connections in Latin America.
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For comparison, China Mobile, the leading telecom operator in the world, has more than 500 million 4G subscribers on its network. Indian telecom operator Reliance Jio has 100 million 4G subscribers for its free promotional offers.
GSMA said 97 mobile operators had commercially launched 4G networks across 39 countries in Latin America by 2016, with many more expected to launch 4G in the coming years. According to GSMA Intelligence, 4G networks already cover 68 percent of the Latin American population and will cover 83 percent of the region’s population by 2020.
Smartphones accounted for 55 percent of total mobile connections in Latin America at the end of 2016.
“Strong investment by mobile operators is driving the Latin American migration to high-speed networks, but an urgent regulatory modernisation is needed to foster the development of the regional digital ecosystem and promote further innovation and investment,” said Sebastian Cabello, head of Latin America, GSMA.
GSMA says telecom operators will be rolling out 5G networks in Latin America from 2020 onwards. M2M connections in the Latin America region reached 25 million by end of 2016 and are forecast to more than double to 53 million connections in 2020.
5G will require significant new, widely harmonised mobile spectrum (both low and high frequency bands) to ensure timely roll-out of networks, to maximise network investment, and thereby deliver the full range of 5G’s potential capabilities.
The mobile money industry in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) has 32 live services in 17 markets, with 23 million accounts. The number of registered mobile money accounts increased roughly 35 percent during the last year. 47 percent of registered accounts were active on a 90-day basis, the highest mobile money activity rate in the world.
