FDI in Brazil telecom sector reaches record high in H1
BRAZIL 31 JUL

FDI in Brazil telecom sector reaches record high in H1

Data from Brazil's Central Bank, compiled by the country's Ministry of Communications, shows that foreign direct investment (FDI) in Brazil's telecom sector climbed to USD 3.582 billion (BRL 18.4 billion) between January and June 2026. This marks a 7.8 percent year-on-year increase over H1 2025 and represents the highest first-half total ever recorded in the Central Bank's time series.

TIM Brasil to open 80 new retail stores in 2026
BRAZIL 31 JUL

TIM Brasil to open 80 new retail stores in 2026

Telecom operator TIM Brasil has announced plans to open approximately 80 new physical stores across 19 federal units in 2026. Around 20 locations are already operational, with the remaining set to open by the end of the year. TIM plans 26 new stores in the North (a 116.7% increase over 2025's 12 openings) and 20 in the Northeast (a 122.2% increase from nine last year). New locations will span 19 states across all five Brazilian regions.

Rey named Peru's Minister of Transport and Communications
PERU 31 JUL

Rey named Peru's Minister of Transport and Communications

The Peruvian government has announced the appointment of Rafael Rey as the new head of the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC). An industrial engineer, Rey previously held positions such as Minister of Production (2006-2008), Peruvian Ambassador to Italy (2009), Minister of Defence (2009-2011), and Director of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru (2016-2021).

V.tal and Meta begin landing Malbec subsea cable in Southern Brazil
BRAZIL 31 JUL

V.tal and Meta begin landing Malbec subsea cable in Southern Brazil

V.tal and Meta have initiated the shore-end landing operation for the extension of the Malbec submarine cable system in Balneario Pinhal, Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. This crucial phase connects the ocean infrastructure to the local Cable Landing Station, linking the subsea system to a new terrestrial network under construction to Porto Alegre. Expected to go live in the first quarter of 2027, the 280-km extension will establish the first direct international data route to southern Brazil, positioning Porto

Claro Costa Rica expands 5G to over 2 million, launches mid-year promo
COSTA RICA 31 JUL

Claro Costa Rica expands 5G to over 2 million, launches mid-year promo

Claro Costa Rica (America Movil) said it has expanded its 5G network coverage across all seven provinces of the country, reaching more than 2.1 million people, with the highest concentration of users in the Greater Metropolitan Area and sustained growth in Guanacaste, Puntarenas and Limón. Users can access the 5G service without additional cost, reaching speeds up to 10 times faster than 4G LTE, said Claro, which has launched a mid-year campaign to mark the milestone.

Megacable sales up 7% in Q2, tops 6 mln internet subs
MEXICO 31 JUL

Megacable sales up 7% in Q2, tops 6 mln internet subs

Mexican triple-play operator Megacable reported revenues of MXN 9.33 billion in the second quarter of 2026, up 7.2 percent year on year, thanks mainly to the addition of new subscribers following expansion into new territories in recent years. The Guadalajara-based group also posted a 5.9 percent annual rise in its EBITDA to MXN 4.19 billion, with net profit climbing 11.0 percent to MXN 852.06 million due to positive and recurring cash generation.

Brazil becomes Starlink's second-largest global market - Ookla
BRAZIL 30 JUL

Brazil becomes Starlink's second-largest global market - Ookla

Starlink has established Brazil as its second-largest global market, reaching 791,000 fixed broadband subscriptions (a 1.4% national market share) by May, according to Ookla research. Starlink has captured significant market share in both rural regions, where it holds nearly 10 percent of the market due to low fibre availability, and major urban hubs like Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Padtec partners with Datco to boost Latin American distribution
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN 30 JUL

Padtec partners with Datco to boost Latin American distribution

Brazilian telecommunications supplier Padtec has partnered with Argentina's Grupo Datco to expand the regional reach of its products. Under the agreement, Datco will distribute Padtec's connectivity solutions, including DWDM equipment, routers, and switches, across its sales channels in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Uruguay. The collaboration builds on an 18-year relationship between Padtec and Datco's subsidiary Silica Networks, leveraging decades of shared expertise in optical transport

Intelbras reports 16% net profit growth in Q2
BRAZIL 30 JUL

Intelbras reports 16% net profit growth in Q2

Brazilian telecom equipment manufacturer Intelbras recorded a net profit of BRL 158.3 million in the second quarter of 2026, up 16.1 percent year-on-year. While net operating revenue dropped 7.8 percent to BRL 1.14 billion due to a exceptionally strong comparison base in Q2 2025, overall profitability improved. EBITDA rose 9.4 percent to BRL 168.9 million, expanding the EBITDA margin to 14.7 percent. Performance was further boosted by controlled operating expenses and a positive financial result of BRL 29.8

Padtec and BNDES to launch BRL 100 million telecom credit line
BRAZIL 30 JUL

Padtec and BNDES to launch BRL 100 million telecom credit line

Fibre-optic equipment manufacturer Padtec and Brazil's state bank BNDES have established a new receivables investment fund (FIDC Funttel Padtec II) designed to provide financing and competitive credit to small and medium-sized telecommunications companies purchasing Padtec equipment. Operating with up to BRL 100 million in capital, the fund receives 80 percent of its backing from BNDES (utilizing Funttel resources), 18.7 percent from Padtec, and 1.3 percent from the fund's manager, OPEA. Expected to launch

T-Systems do Brasil names managing director and COO
BRAZIL 30 JUL

T-Systems do Brasil names managing director and COO

T-Systems do Brasil, the IT services division of Deutsche Telekom, announced a major restructuring of its executive leadership. As part of the reorganization, Marcelo Zuccas steps into the role of Managing Director. Zuccas brings over three decades of tech industry experience from top global corporations, including IBM, Samsung and NCR, where he led operations, sales and expansion strategies across North and Latin America. Alongside Zuccas's appointment, the company has created a new Chief Operating Officer

Honduras opens USD 24 mln tender in AWS band
HONDURAS 30 JUL

Honduras opens USD 24 mln tender in AWS band

Honduran telecommunications watchdog Conatel has announced the launch of a spectrum tender to expand 4G and 5G mobile services nationwide. The regulator published terms for auctioning three 20 MHz blocks in the 1.7 GHz AWS (1,700-2,100 MHz) band, a frequency range already widely allocated across Latin America for advanced mobile networks.

CHILE 30 JUL

Movistar tops Chile 5G speed ranking in H1 2026

Movistar (Telefonica) once again led Ookla's ranking of 5G mobile networks in Chile in the first half of 2026, based on tests conducted over the Speedtest service. Ookla said Movistar achieved an overall Speed Score of 50.1 thanks to average download speeds of 172.4 Mbps, followed by Entel with 139.4 Mbps, Claro with 122.7 Mbps and Wom with 120.4 Mbps. Entel had the lowest average latency in the market, at 636.0 ms, closely followed by Movistar with 646.1 Mbps.

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN 30 JUL

SES to provide multi-orbit Wi-Fi on 60+ LatAm Airbus, Embraer jets

SES has been selected by LatAm Airlines to supply multi-orbit inflight connectivity across the latter's expanding fleet of Airbus and Embraer aircraft. Under the deal, more than 60 aircraft, including Airbus A320neo and A321XLR models as well as Embraer E195-E2 jets, will be fitted with SES services in the coming years.

BRAZIL 29 JUL

TIM Brasil talks to Starlink on D2D services

TIM Brasil is revamping its commercial portfolio to push "convergent" service bundles, combining mobile plans, fixed fibre broadband, and digital entertainment, to boost subscriber retention and ARPU, reported O Estado de Sao Paulo. Beyond convergence, CEO Alberto Griselli confirmed to the daily that TIM is in discussions with SpaceX's Starlink to partner on direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity. The operator is specifically targeting Starlink's next-generation satellite constellation, expected in 2

BRAZIL 29 JUL

TIM Brasil expands smart 5G Infrastructure to more state capitals

TIM Brasil said it is accelerating its mobile network modernisation strategy, rolling out AI-driven smart antennas across greater Salvador and preparing to extend the technology to five additional state capitals later this year. Following initial deployments in Sao Paulo, Brasilia and Belo Horizonte, TIM's expansion in the Salvador metropolitan area encompasses 511 modernised mobile sites benefiting an estimated 1.3 million users. The upgrades feature intelligent antennas and real-time automated traffic man

BRAZIL 28 JUL

TIM Brasil approves BRL 670 million to settle debts at I-Systems and V8.Tech

TIM Brasil's board of directors has authorised capital injections of up to BRL 670 million into two of its technology and infrastructure subsidiaries. The company will allocate up to BRL 600 million to wholesale fibre operator I-Systems and up to BRL 70 million to IT solutions firm V8.Tech. Funded entirely through TIM's existing cash reserves, the capital deployment's primary purpose is to enable the early settlement of financial obligations at both entities recently fully consolidated by TIM. By prepaying

ARGENTINA 28 JUL

Starlink to connect 6,000 rural schools in Argentina

Argentina's president Javier Milei said the government has reached an agreement with SpaceX's Starlink to provide satellite internet to 6,000 rural schools, as part of efforts to improve connectivity in underserved areas. The announcement was made during the 138th International Livestock, Agriculture and Industry Exhibition in Buenos Aires, where Milei highlighted satellite technology as key to reaching regions where traditional infrastructure is limited or unfeasible.

BRAZIL 28 JUL

Telefonica Brasil Q2 net profit surges 17% to BRL 1.6 bln

Telefonica Brasil (Vivo) posted a 17.0 percent year-on-year increase in net profit for the second quarter of 2026, reaching BRL 1.57 billion. Net operating revenue was 7.6 percent higher at BRL 15.76 billion. EBITDA rose 10.9 percent to BRL 6.58 billion, the company's highest growth rate since Q3 2023, and the EBITDA margin increased by 1.3 percentage points to 41.8 percent.

URUGUAY 28 JUL

Antel to invest over USD 750 mln in AI, fibre expansion by 2030

Uruguayan state-owned operator Antel said it plans to invest more than USD 750 million between 2025 and 2030 to expand infrastructure, deploy AI capabilities and strengthen digital services, its president Alejandro Paz announced at the company's 52nd anniversary.

BRAZIL 28 JUL

TIM Brasil posts revenues up 5.5% in Q2

TIM Brasil reported a 6.2 percent year-on-year increase in normalised net profit for the second quarter of 2026, reaching BRL 1.04 billion. Net revenue expanded 5.5 percent to BRL 5.96 billion, propelled by steady mobile revenue growth and a 27 percent surge in fixed-line services after customer growth at TIM Ultrafibra and the consolidation of V8.Tech. Unadjusted net profit was little changed at BRL 970 million (-0.6%), and EBITDA was up 7 percent to BRL 3.58 billion, with the margin expanding by 0.7 perce

MEXICO 28 JUL

Total Play sales down 2% to MXN 11.4 bln in Q2, adds over 121,000 subs

Mexican triple-play operator Total Play (Grupo Salinas) reported revenues down 2 percent year on year to MXN 11.36 billion in the second quarter of 2026, attributed to a 16 percent fall in enterprise sales, partly offset by a 1 percent growth for the residential business. The company's EBITDA declined 6 percent year on year to MXN 5.07 billion in the April to June period.

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN 28 JUL

Tecnotree wins USD 8.8 mln LatAm digital transformation deals

BSS and telecoms IT vendor Tecnotree said it has strengthened its presence in the Latin American region via new digital transformation contracts with unnamed customers worth a combined USD 8.8 million. The company will deploy its AI-native digital platform and B2B marketplace to help communications service providers streamline operations, enable real-time monetisation and improve customer engagement through data-driven marketing and experience management.

COLOMBIA 27 JUL

Claro Colombia taps Whalebone for mobile security service

Claro Colombia (America Movil) has partnered with cybersecurity firm Whalebone to launch Claro Shield, a network-level security service for its postpaid mobile customers. The service, powered by Whalebone Aura, marks the first deployment of the technology in South America and reinforces Claro's focus on customer protection.

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Background

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The week in telecom: Samsung works on foldable challenge, US telcos try FMC

19 JUL 23:41

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12 JUL 23:30

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5 JUL 23:03

The week in telecom: Comcast gives up on vertical integration, BT and Verizon agree global alliance