Millicom preps DTH launch in Colombia, TiVo deployment across LATAM


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Juan Fernandez Gonzalez

| 12 February 2016




2016 will see two key moves for Millicom's future in Latin America: the launch of a direct-to-home (DTH) service in Colombia and the deployment of TiVo throughout the region.



Driven by positive quarterly and yearly figures, despite currency devaluations, the Luxembourg-based telco plans to secure Latin America as its worldwide powerhouse.

“We have a clear operational roadmap for 2016 aimed at achieving a leadership role in fixed-mobile services,” stated Mauricio Ramos, CEO, during the Q4 report presentation. “Looking ahead, highlights will include rolling out 4G in Paraguay, satellite pay-TV launch in Colombia and the introduction of TiVo across all our Latin American countries.”

TiVo and Millicom’s partnership was unveiled last September, but little is known except that the telco intends to introduce several TiVo products to pay-TV platforms operating in Latin America.

The Spanish-speaking region is Millicom's largest revenue generator, even though its African business is seeing strong growth. In Q4 2015, group revenue was $1.68 billion, $1.42 billion of which was generated in LATAM. With good growth in Costa Rica and Bolivia, currency weaknesses of the Colombian peso (41% year-on-year devaluation) and the Paraguayan guarani (24%) significantly affected the total reported revenues.

Despite the launch of its latest pay-TV operations, mobile is the largest business for Millicom, powered by a strong over-the-top bundle services strategy. In LATAM, the telco gained 900,000 subscribers in Q4, largely from Guatemala and Colombia. Worldwide, mobile data shows revenue up 31.9%, led by data penetration.