| Entel S.A. | |
| Type: | Sociedad Anónima |
| Location City: | La Paz |
| Location Country: | Bolivia |
| Location: | Federico Zuazo 1771 |
| Locations: | More than 1000 points |
| Founder: | René Barrientos |
| Area Served: | Bolivia |
| Key People: | Edgar Montaño (Minister of Public Works, Services and Housing) Roque Roy Mendez (chairman) |
| Industry: | Telecommunications |
| 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. |
| Subsid: | Datacom S.R.L. Entel Bolivia S.A.C. |
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, 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.
As of 2021, Entel was the official jersey sponsor of Bolivia's national basketball team.[13]