Colombia's Avantel uses TV to drive LTE demand


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Juan Fernandez Gonzalez

| 10 March 2016




Aiming to increase data package subscribers, Colombia's telecom operator Avantel has launched Avantel+, a mobile TV service for 4G customers.



avantelNot having a pay-TV platform of its own, Avantel has reached content agreements with DirecTV and FOX, whose TV everywhere platforms DirecTV Sports, DirecTV Play and FOX Play will now be available for Avantel+ subscribers.

For a year, the service will be free for LTE subscribers, who will also be given 20Gb of data to access Avantel+ without an increase in subscription charge. Currently, the company's 4G network only covers Colombia's largest cities such as Bogotá, Cali, Medellín, Barranquilla and Bucaramanga.

“In Colombia, there is a particular situation within telecoms: mobile data is the fastest growing service, but 4G penetration is still very low, under 8%, and there are not many LTE-ready smartphones in the country,” said José Andrés Palacio, president of Avantel, speaking to the newspaper Portafolio.

Indeed, the latest GSMA report shows the lack of relevant content is hindering mobile broadband penetration in Latin America.