The latest episode of ANDICOM Live brought together three leading voices from the digital ecosystem to tackle a topic as urgent as it is structural: the sustainability of the Telco model in Latin America.
🎙️ Wally Swain, Principal Consultant, Omdia
🎙️ Mario Castaño, Technical Director, CINTEL
🎙️ Francisco Miranda, Director, Portafolio (official media partner of #ANDICOM2025)
Moderated by Francisco Miranda, the panel offered a technically sound and strategically sharp analysis of the challenges currently facing the telecommunications sector in the region.
Why are we talking about a crisis?
Los panelistas coincidieron en que no se trata de una alarma injustificada, sino de un escenario medible con datos:
Stagnant ARPU: Average revenue per user (ARPU) remains historically low in the region (USD 5–8/month), limiting operators’ flexibility and profitability.
Declining investment: According to the CRC’s study “Trends in the development of 5G mobile networks”, only 5.2% of mobile sites in Colombia have 5G technology.
Saturated market: More users are connected, but without proportional increases in revenue or investment, the current model is reaching its limits.
What’s at stake?
The discussion revealed the risk of accelerated market concentration, potentially leading to an oligopolistic structure that would hinder investment, innovation, and service quality. Experts stressed the urgent need for:
Stronger, more independent regulators
Business models that go beyond selling connectivity to offer added value
New public-private cooperation schemes to close rural connectivity gaps
What opportunities lie ahead?
Far from a doomsday narrative, the panelists outlined concrete transformation pathways:
🔁 Shared networks – to reduce costs without sacrificing coverage
🔌 Techco evolution – integrating digital services, AI, IoT, and advanced analytics
🤝 Cross-sector alliances – to ensure sustainable rural connectivity
⚙️ Operational efficiency – through automation, digitization, and strategic data use
The conversation continues at ANDICOM 2025
This debate is just getting started. At the 40th edition of ANDICOM, the future of the Telco sector will be a key pillar of the academic agenda:
What does the Telco industry need to lead—not just endure—digital transformation?
🎥 Watch the full ANDICOM Live session here:
👉 https://andicom.co/andicom40-live
📍 Join us in Cartagena, September 3–5, to continue building solutions alongside operators, regulators, technologists, and decision-makers.
#ANDICOM40 #DesbloqueaElFuturoDigital