Pay-TV provider DirecTV has launched its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) service, branding the new offering DirecTV Net, local news portal Communidad Ola writes. Service is currently limited to Chia, Palmira, Barrancabermeja and Monteria, and the operator plans to expand its offerings to smaller cities at first, before launching in the likes of Bogota, Cali and Barranquilla. DirecTV aims to cover 57 municipalities in the next five years. The provider’s plans offer unlimited downloads at speeds of 2Mbps, 4Mbps or 6Mbps.
According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database, DirecTV will compete with the nation’s trio of incumbent cellcos – Tigo Colombia, Claro Colombia and Movistar Colombia – as well as Une-EPM, whilst a sixth operator, Avantel, is expected to launch later this year after encountering difficulties signing national roaming agreements with the incumbents. Colombia was home to 167,018 4G users at the end of 2013.