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Entel S.A. (acronym for Empresa Nacional de Telecomunicaciones) is a major Bolivian state-owned telecommunications company, headquartered in La Paz, Bolivia. [1][2][3]
 | |
| Company type | Sociedad Anónima |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | 22 December 1965 |
| Founder | René Barrientos |
| Headquarters | Federico Zuazo 1771, , |
Number of locations | More than 1000 points |
Area served | Bolivia |
Key people | Edgar Montaño (Minister of Public Works, Services and Housing) Roque Roy Mendez (chairman) |
| Products | Landline telephony, mobile telephony, fixed internet, mobile internet, IP television, IT services |
| Owner | Majority stake (97.4671%) Gruppo TIM (1995-2008) Ministry of Public Works, Services and Housing (2008-present) |
| Divisions | Entel Financiera ESPM S.R.L. |
| Subsidiaries | Datacom S.R.L. Entel Bolivia S.A.C. |
| Website | www |
Entel was founded on December 22, 1965 by Law Decree N° 7441 as a joint-stock company with official representation in Bolivia. In 1966 it became a decentralized public company, under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Aeronautics.
On November 27, 1995, Telecom Italia was granted 50% of Entel's shares and management of the company. In addition, the Telecommunications Law (Law No. 1632 of July 5, 1995) granted Entel a six-year monopoly on national and international long-distance telephone services. Telecom Italia, on its part, committed to implement an investment plan totaling US$610 million and to meet the expansion and quality goals defined by the law and by the concession contract.
On May 1, 2008, Entel was nationalized by Supreme Decree N° 29544. Bolivia became the owner of 97% of the company's shares through the Ministry of Public Works, Services and Housing; the labor stability of Entel's workers is guaranteed, and as well as the contracts signed with customers and suppliers.[4][5] The decree orders the transformation of Entel from a private corporation to a mixed-economy company, disposition not fulfilled to 2021.[6][7]
A milestone was reached in the company's history, due to the launch of the Túpac Katari 1 satellite that would be beneficial for its coverage in Bolivia, in December 2013. This was Bolivia's first telecommunications satellite and will also improve connection speeds in the process.[8]
In September 2017, the company announced that it would enter the Peruvian telecommunications market, and also invest US$60 million in the process.[9][10]
Entel announced that they were creating a fiber-optic network in May 2019.[11]
In September 2019, they successfully tested 5G in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, along with Chinese company Huawei.[12]
In September 2020, they successfully connected their fiber optic network to the international network.
Sponsorship
editAs of 2021, Entel was the official jersey sponsor of Bolivia's national basketball team.[13]
References
edit- ^ "Entel adquirió radiobases de sus $120 millones por invitación". La Prensa (in Spanish). La Paz - Bolivia: La Prensa. 8 October 2009. Archived from the original on October 12, 2009. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
- ^ Omar Pérez Salomón (11 August 2008). "Entel Bolivia: El reverso de las transnacionales". Cuba Socialista. Revista Teórica y Política. (in Spanish). Cubasocialista.cu. Archived from the original on 2011-08-10. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
- ^ "Entel - Historia". Entel.com (in Spanish). 5 June 2011. Archived from the original on 2008-12-17.
- ^ "Bolivia acepta arbitraje por nacionalización de una telefónica" (in Spanish). El Comercio. August 27, 2008. Archived from the original on 2023-04-26. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
- ^ "UPDATE 1-Bolivia announces takeover of Telecom Italia unit". Reuters. 2008-05-01. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
- ^ "Empresa Nacional de Telecomunicaciones Sociedad Anónima". ASFI. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
- ^ "Revelan que la "estatal" Entel es una empresa privada". www.paginasiete.bo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-04-19.
- ^ "China Launches Bolivia's First Telecom Satellite". SpaceNews.com. 23 December 2013. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
- ^ "Entel anuncia provisión de servicios en el sur de Perú". El Deber (in Spanish). 1 September 2017.
- ^ "Entel Bolivia to provide fibre services in Peru". Telecom Paper. 5 September 2017. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
- ^ "Bolivia will launch fiber optic network across the Pacific | Bitfinance". 2019-05-28. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
- ^ "Entel realiza con éxito primeras pruebas del 5G en Bolivia". DPLNews (in Spanish). 24 September 2019.
- ^ Bolivia FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Americas Pre-Qualifiers 2021 FIBA, 15 July 2021. Accessed 21 July 2021.