Internet in Colombia
Encyclopedia
Internet access in Colombia
shows a marked increase during the last few years. As of September 2009, the web connections surpassed two million, as compared with an estimated total of 900,000 Internet subscribers by the end of 2005. The current figure equated to 17 millions Internet users, plus 3.8 millions of mobile internet users, or 38.5 percent of the 2009 population, as compared with 4,739,000 Internet users in 2005, or 11.5 percent of the 2005 population (10.9 per 100 inhabitants). Colombia had 581,877 Internet hosts in 2006. This represents an overall growt of 54 percent each year, the highest in Latin America
. Although as many as 70 percent of Colombians accessed the Internet over their ordinary telephone lines, dial-up access is losing ground to broadband. In 2005 Colombia had 345,000 broadband subscriber lines, or one per 100 inhabitants. In 2006 the number of personal computers per 1,000 people increased to an estimated 87 per 1,000 inhabitants, a rate still below that in other large Latin American economies. As of 2009, Colombia duplicated the number of personal computers reaching 26.3 percent, as compared with the rest of Latin America which showed a decreasing trend (being Argentina
the only other country with positive growth, showing a 2.3 increase). The internet country code is .co
.
, then in 1994 the same university is entrusted by a group of other Colombian universities and some government agencies to become the first Internet Service Provider in the country, on June 4, 1994, the first signal coming from Homestead, FL was received, this signal was sent through IMPSAT satellite service to a hill in Bogotá (Cerro de Suba), then redirected to Bogotá's tallest building (Torre Colpatria
) and finally to the university campus .
and Cable operator TV Cable S.A both based in Bogotá
, Colombia.
From 1997 to 2001, only the cities of Bogotá and Bucaramanga
had broadband Cable Internet access, although during that time, the service remained expensive and was only available in the richest neighbourhoods.
In the year 2001, ADSL Internet access appeared in Colombia. The appearance of ADSL Internet access meant a commercial war between the Telecom
companies and the cable operators (mainly in Bogotá and Bucaramanga). For some strange reason, Bogotá, the largest city by size in Colombia, and Bucaramanga, the fifth city by size, have been the only cities where Cable and ADSL operators are available throughout the whole city at the same time. Nowadays the fiercest battles to attract broadband users are in Bogotá and Bucaramanga.
Medellín, Cali, and Barranquilla, the second, third and fourth cities by population in Colombia have only one ADSL
operator that reaches the city as a whole. This means the ADSL operator and the cable operators are not competing directly in those cities so that tariffs are higher than in Bogotá or Bucaramanga.
With respect to all the cities below one million inhabitants, ADSL broadband access is available through Colombia-Telecom (50% owned by Colombian Government and 50% owned by Telefónica
from Spain). Because in these cities and towns the only broadband provider is Colombia-Telecom the service remains expensive.
Note: As of late (2007) Telefónica Colombia has expanded DSL operations to all Capital and Major cities and all cities with a main office and a main satellite.
In Colombia there are three national ADSL and WiMax
Broadband Providers. They hold monopoly positions in every city, with the notable exception of Bogotá.
With respect to Broadband Cable Providers, each one of them is available only in their native city, and constitutes a monopoly in its respective city.
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
shows a marked increase during the last few years. As of September 2009, the web connections surpassed two million, as compared with an estimated total of 900,000 Internet subscribers by the end of 2005. The current figure equated to 17 millions Internet users, plus 3.8 millions of mobile internet users, or 38.5 percent of the 2009 population, as compared with 4,739,000 Internet users in 2005, or 11.5 percent of the 2005 population (10.9 per 100 inhabitants). Colombia had 581,877 Internet hosts in 2006. This represents an overall growt of 54 percent each year, the highest in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. Although as many as 70 percent of Colombians accessed the Internet over their ordinary telephone lines, dial-up access is losing ground to broadband. In 2005 Colombia had 345,000 broadband subscriber lines, or one per 100 inhabitants. In 2006 the number of personal computers per 1,000 people increased to an estimated 87 per 1,000 inhabitants, a rate still below that in other large Latin American economies. As of 2009, Colombia duplicated the number of personal computers reaching 26.3 percent, as compared with the rest of Latin America which showed a decreasing trend (being Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
the only other country with positive growth, showing a 2.3 increase). The internet country code is .co
.co
.co is the country code top-level domain assigned to the Republic of Colombia. It is administered by .CO Internet S.A.S., a strategic venture formed between Arcelandia S.A. and Neustar, Inc...
.
History
The first approximation to internet made by Colombia was in 1988 with the creation of RDUA, a local network, by University of the Andes, ColombiaUniversity of the Andes, Colombia
The University of the Andes , is a coeducational, nonsectarian private university located in city centre Bogotá, Colombia. Founded in 1948, the University has 9 faculties: Administration, Architecture and Design, Arts and Humanities, Sciences, Social Sciences, Law, Economics, Engineering and...
, then in 1994 the same university is entrusted by a group of other Colombian universities and some government agencies to become the first Internet Service Provider in the country, on June 4, 1994, the first signal coming from Homestead, FL was received, this signal was sent through IMPSAT satellite service to a hill in Bogotá (Cerro de Suba), then redirected to Bogotá's tallest building (Torre Colpatria
Torre Colpatria
Torre Colpatria is a 50-story skyscraper located at the area of San Diego in Bogotá, Colombia. It is the tallest in the country and the second tallest in South America. It was constructed from 1978 until 1979, and has a total height of...
) and finally to the university campus .
Broadband Internet access
Broadband Internet access has been available in Colombia since 1997. The service was originally charged in American dollars, remaining expensive. The pioneers in broadband access in Colombia were University of the AndesUniversity of the Andes, Colombia
The University of the Andes , is a coeducational, nonsectarian private university located in city centre Bogotá, Colombia. Founded in 1948, the University has 9 faculties: Administration, Architecture and Design, Arts and Humanities, Sciences, Social Sciences, Law, Economics, Engineering and...
and Cable operator TV Cable S.A both based in Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
, Colombia.
From 1997 to 2001, only the cities of Bogotá and Bucaramanga
Bucaramanga
Bucaramanga is a Colombian city, and capital city of the department of Santander, Colombia. Bucaramanga has the fifth largest city economy and sixth largest population in Colombia, with 1,212,656 people in its metropolitan area...
had broadband Cable Internet access, although during that time, the service remained expensive and was only available in the richest neighbourhoods.
In the year 2001, ADSL Internet access appeared in Colombia. The appearance of ADSL Internet access meant a commercial war between the Telecom
Telecom
Telecom refers to:* An abbreviation of telecommunication.* Short for telecommunications company, in general.* A short name for any telecommunications company with "Telecom" specifically in the name, where context allows media or people to commonly exclude the rest of its name without confusion,...
companies and the cable operators (mainly in Bogotá and Bucaramanga). For some strange reason, Bogotá, the largest city by size in Colombia, and Bucaramanga, the fifth city by size, have been the only cities where Cable and ADSL operators are available throughout the whole city at the same time. Nowadays the fiercest battles to attract broadband users are in Bogotá and Bucaramanga.
Medellín, Cali, and Barranquilla, the second, third and fourth cities by population in Colombia have only one ADSL
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line
Asymmetric digital subscriber line is a type of digital subscriber line technology, a data communications technology that enables faster data transmission over copper telephone lines than a conventional voiceband modem can provide. It does this by utilizing frequencies that are not used by a voice...
operator that reaches the city as a whole. This means the ADSL operator and the cable operators are not competing directly in those cities so that tariffs are higher than in Bogotá or Bucaramanga.
With respect to all the cities below one million inhabitants, ADSL broadband access is available through Colombia-Telecom (50% owned by Colombian Government and 50% owned by Telefónica
Telefónica
Telefónica, S.A. is a Spanish broadband and telecommunications provider in Europe and Latin America. Operating globally, it is the third largest provider in the world...
from Spain). Because in these cities and towns the only broadband provider is Colombia-Telecom the service remains expensive.
Note: As of late (2007) Telefónica Colombia has expanded DSL operations to all Capital and Major cities and all cities with a main office and a main satellite.
In Colombia there are three national ADSL and WiMax
WiMAX
WiMAX is a communication technology for wirelessly delivering high-speed Internet service to large geographical areas. The 2005 WiMAX revision provided bit rates up to 40 Mbit/s with the 2011 update up to 1 Gbit/s for fixed stations...
Broadband Providers. They hold monopoly positions in every city, with the notable exception of Bogotá.
With respect to Broadband Cable Providers, each one of them is available only in their native city, and constitutes a monopoly in its respective city.
National players
- Telecom/Telefónica
- Monopoly ADSL Position in all the cities and towns between 1 million inhabitants and 100,000 inhabitants
- its also has a minor share of ADSL Access in Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla
- It has monopolistic ADSL and WIMAX Access in Bucaramanga.
- Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Bogotá "ETB" (90% owned by the city of Bogotá, and 10% owned by private investors).
- Near monopolistic ADSL provider in Bogotá
- Near Monopolistic WIMAX provider Armenia, Medellín, Barranquilla, Palmira, Cartagena, Villavicencio, Neiva, Pereira, Ibague, Manizales, Montería, Bucaramanga, Tunja, Santa Marta, Valledupar, Popayán , Cúcuta, Cartago.
- Small WIMAX share in Cali
- Empresas Públicas de Medellín "EPM" (100% owned by the city of Medellín)
- Near monopolic ADSL and WIMAX provider in Medellín
- Small ADSL Share in Bogotá
- Near monopoly WIMAX share in Cali
- Coldecon
- Small ADSL Share in Colombia
- Near monopoly wifi share in Cali
- Near monopoly wifi share in Barranquilla
Regional players
- TV Cable SA
- It has a mayor share on the cable broadband access in Bogotá. This company focuses on the richest neighbourhoods of Bogotá, and has found its market niche in the wealthy parts of Bogotá, mainly the northern part. Although it is a local player, it is the most technologically advanced broadband provider in Colombia. It is the only company providing Triple playTriple play (telecommunications)In telecommunications, triple play service is a marketing term for the provisioning of two bandwidth-intensive services, high-speed Internet access and television, and a less bandwidth-demanding service, telephone, over a single broadband connection. Triple play focuses on a combined business...
in Colombia.
- It has a mayor share on the cable broadband access in Bogotá. This company focuses on the richest neighbourhoods of Bogotá, and has found its market niche in the wealthy parts of Bogotá, mainly the northern part. Although it is a local player, it is the most technologically advanced broadband provider in Colombia. It is the only company providing Triple play
- CableCentro
- It has a minor share of CABLE broadband access in most of the cities above 100 000 in Colombia
- Cable Union de Occidente
- It has nearly monopolistic share of CABLE Broadband Access in Cali
- TV Cable Promision SA (completely unrelated with TV Cable SA)
- It has nearly monopolistic share of CABLE Broadband Access in Bucaramanga
- Dinanet
- It has monopolistic share of CABLE Broadband Access in Barranquilla
- Telecom Occidente
- Colombia's largest fixed wireless dual-play provider. Regionally focused on Cundinamarca.
See also
- List of countries by number of internet users
- List of countries by number of broadband Internet users