laro and Movistar estimate that each handle 20 percent of the cellular market, after portability. CRH.
Although the number of cell phone lines increased by 1.2 million between 2012 to 2013, total market share held by the national telecom ICE declined. According to statistics from Sutel, the telecom regulator, in 2012, 79 percent of the market belonged to ICE, 9 percent Claro, 7 percent Movistar, 3 percent Tuyo Mobile, and 2 percent Full Cell. By September 2013, Sutel counted a total of 6.59 million lines, of which 65 percent are held by ICE, 16 percent Claro, 16 percent Movistar, 2 percent Tuyo Mobile and 1 percent Full Mobile.
According to experts, ICE is seeing slow growth in the market while its private competitors are gaining ground. A new market strategy is the only way to counter the trend.
Telephone number portability, where customers keep their number and change providers is cited as a reason why Claro and Movistar have been able to gain a combined 20 percent market share.