4G coverage hit 50% at end-2014

Coverage of Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks reached 50% of Colombia’s population at the end of 2014, Signals Telecom writes, citing local news outlets. Claro is reportedly in the lead in terms of coverage with 200 towns and 28 capitals served by its network, with the cellco planning to add 100 more municipalities to its footprint by the end of 2015. The Mexican-backed provider invested USD1.2 billion in 4G infrastructure in 2014 and expects spending to rise to between USD1.2 billion and USD1.5 billion in 2015. Movistar, meanwhile, serves five main cities – Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla and Bucaramanga – and 77 municipalities. For its part, Tigo/Une-EPM has extended coverage to Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Bucaramanga, Valledupar, Ibague and Cucuta but expects to roll out services to the following cities by year-end: Monteria, Riohacha, Sinceljo, Villavicencio, Neiva, Pasto, Popayan, Tunja, Pereira, Manizales and Armenia.