América Móvil's Claro to double 5G towns in Colombia

Claro Colombia, a subsidiary of Mexican telecommunications group América Móvil, announced plans to double the number of municipalities with 5G coverage over the next year. If the goal is met, the high-speed network will reach more than 200 municipalities across Colombia.

The company has invested more than $180 million in its 5G deployment so far. Claro currently operates over 2,800 active 5G base stations, which can cover around 55% of the Colombian population. The carrier intends to expand its network to 3,800 stations within the next 12 months.

According to Iader Maldonado, corporate technology director of Claro Colombia, the carrier handles more than 70% of 5G traffic in Colombia. The push comes as the local market reorganizes following the approval of the integration between rivals Tigo and Movistar.

Maldonado pointed out that key expansion challenges include Colombia's complex geography and the cost of radio spectrum. He added that local territorial planning regulations must streamline public space usage for antennas, while spectrum costs must become more accessible to reach remote areas.