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.