Entel (Bolivia)

Entel S.A. (acronym for Empresa Nacional de Telecomunicaciones) is a major Bolivian state-owned telecommunications company, headquartered in La Paz, Bolivia. [1][2][3]

Entel S.A.
TypeSociedad Anónima
IndustryTelecommunications
Founded22 December 1965 (1965-12-22)
FounderRené Barrientos
HeadquartersFederico Zuazo 1771,
La Paz
,
Bolivia
Number of locations
More than 1000 points
Area served
Bolivia
Key people
Edgar Montaño (Minister of Public Works, Services and Housing)
Roque Roy Mendez (chairman)
ProductsLandline telephony, mobile telephony, fixed internet, mobile internet, IP television, IT services
OwnerMajority stake (97.4671%)
Gruppo TIM (1995-2008)
Ministry of Public Works, Services and Housing (2008-present)
DivisionsEntel Financiera ESPM S.R.L.
SubsidiariesDatacom S.R.L.
Entel Bolivia S.A.C.
Websitewww.entel.bo

Entel was founded on December 22, 1965 by Law Decree N° 7441 as a joint-stock company with official representation in Bolivia. In 1966 it became a decentralized public company, under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Aeronautics.

On November 27, 1995, Telecom Italia was granted 50% of Entel's shares and management of the company. In addition, the Telecommunications Law (Law No. 1632 of July 5, 1995) granted Entel a six-year monopoly on national and international long-distance telephone services. Telecom Italia, on its part, committed to implement an investment plan totaling US$610 million and to meet the expansion and quality goals defined by the law and by the concession contract.

On May 1, 2008, Entel was nationalized by Supreme Decree N° 29544. Bolivia became the owner of 97% of the company's shares through the Ministry of Public Works, Services and Housing; the labor stability of Entel's workers is guaranteed, and as well as the contracts signed with customers and suppliers.[4][5] The decree orders the transformation of Entel from a private corporation to a mixed-economy company, disposition not fulfilled to 2021.[6][7]

A milestone was reached in the company's history, due to the launch of the Túpac Katari 1 satellite that would be beneficial for its coverage in Bolivia, in December 2013. This was Bolivia's first telecommunications satellite and will also improve connection speeds in the process.[8]

In September 2017, the company announced that it would enter the Peruvian telecommunications market, and also invest US$60 million in the process.[9][10]

Entel announced that they were creating a fiber-optic network in May 2019.[11]

In September 2019, they successfully tested 5G in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, along with Chinese company Huawei.[12]

In September 2020, they successfully connected their fiber optic network to the international network.

Sponsorship

As of 2021, Entel was the official jersey sponsor of Bolivia's national basketball team.[13]

References
  1. "Entel adquirió radiobases de sus $120 millones por invitación". La Prensa (in Spanish). La Paz - Bolivia: La Prensa. 8 October 2009. Archived from the original on October 12, 2009. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
  2. Omar Pérez Salomón (11 August 2008). "Entel Bolivia: El reverso de las transnacionales". Cuba Socialista. Revista Teórica y Política. (in Spanish). Cubasocialista.cu. Archived from the original on 2011-08-10. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
  3. "Entel - Historia". Entel.com (in Spanish). 5 June 2011. Archived from the original on 2008-12-17.
  4. "Bolivia acepta arbitraje por nacionalización de una telefónica" (in Spanish). El Comercio. August 27, 2008. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
  5. "UPDATE 1-Bolivia announces takeover of Telecom Italia unit". Reuters. 2008-05-01. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  6. "Empresa Nacional de Telecomunicaciones Sociedad Anónima". ASFI. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  7. "Revelan que la "estatal" Entel es una empresa privada". www.paginasiete.bo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  8. "China Launches Bolivia's First Telecom Satellite". SpaceNews.com. 23 December 2013. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  9. "Entel anuncia provisión de servicios en el sur de Perú". El Deber (in Spanish). 1 September 2017.
  10. "Entel Bolivia to provide fibre services in Peru". Telecom Paper. 5 September 2017. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  11. "Bolivia will launch fiber optic network across the Pacific | Bitfinance". 2019-05-28. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  12. "Entel realiza con éxito primeras pruebas del 5G en Bolivia". DPLNews (in Spanish). 24 September 2019.
  13. Bolivia FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Americas Pre-Qualifiers 2021 FIBA, 15 July 2021. Accessed 21 July 2021.
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