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]
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, STET which would eventually become 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
As of 2021, Entel was the official jersey sponsor of Bolivia's national basketball team.[13]
External links
References
- Entel adquirió radiobases de sus $120 millones por invitación La Prensa, La Prensa, 8 October 2009, retrieved 2010-04-13^
- Omar Pérez Salomón. Entel Bolivia: El reverso de las transnacionales Cuba Socialista. Revista Teórica y Política., Cubasocialista.cu, 11 August 2008, retrieved 2010-04-13^
- Entel - Historia Entel.com, 5 June 2011^
- Bolivia acepta arbitraje por nacionalización de una telefónica El Comercio, August 27, 2008, 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, 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, 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 2019-05-28, retrieved 2020-06-09^
- Entel realiza con éxito primeras pruebas del 5G en Bolivia DPLNews, 24 September 2019^
- Bolivia FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Americas Pre-Qualifiers 2021 FIBA, 15 July 2021. Accessed 21 July 2021.^