Movistar Chile has kicked off the largest mobile network modernization project in its history, delivering a remarkable 200% increase in 5G speeds and major improvements in coverage, stability, and capacity.
The upgrade will begin in the Araucanía Region, with more than 260 mobile antennas being modernized to enhance connectivity across both urban and rural areas.
The initiative was officially launched at Germán Becker Stadium in Temuco, where government and company representatives gathered to mark the milestone. Among them were Undersecretary of Telecommunications, Claudio Araya; Temuco Mayor, Roberto Neira; and Movistar Chile’s Director of B2C Markets, Cristian Schalscha, all of whom praised the far-reaching impact of the project.
Araya emphasized, “Companies like Movistar are investing in the region today, and that is key to advancing and improving people's quality of life through all the tools that digital connectivity offers, in areas such as health, education, work, and security. This project will result in significant improvements to the 5G network, expanding coverage in urban and rural areas, such as Curarrehue.”
Araya noted that it is essential to continue fostering public-private partnerships committed to the development of Chile as it has all the conditions to continue growing and leading the telecommunications market in the region.
With this deployment, all 32 communes in the region— including previously uncovered rural areas like Curarrehue—will now have access to upgraded 5G connectivity. This development enables more people to stay connected simultaneously without loss of quality, a critical benefit for high-traffic locations like stadiums and for everyday tasks such as remote work, online learning, and streaming.
Neira highlighted, “This progress will be key to the digitalization process promoted by the Municipality of Temuco, significantly improving fundamental services such as health, education, and security, thanks to a faster, more efficient 5G network within reach of more people in the region.”
Communities like Villarrica, Pucón, Padre Las Casas, Cunco, Vilcún, and Loncoche are already reaping the benefits. In Temuco alone, the number of 5G sites has surged by more than 150% compared to last year. Across the region, growth has exceeded 50%.
“We are excited to announce this project, which will undoubtedly usher in a new era for 5G,” remarked Schalscha. “It is a source of pride that the region can now enjoy this new mobile technology, which will connect new locations like Curarrehue and also improve the experience of more than 3,000 SMEs and nearly 37,000 micro-enterprises that use Movistar services to advance their businesses, in addition to municipalities, universities, and other key institutions in the region.”
Thus, if we are already leaders in fiber optics in La Araucanía and nationwide, now we will also have the best mobile network.
This regional rollout is part of a broader national effort by Movistar Chile to renew over 5,300 mobile sites. The initiative aims to deliver 80% 5G coverage across urban and semi-rural areas while cutting environmental impact by 15%, thanks to improved energy efficiency.
Movistar Chile’s bold investment sets the stage for a new chapter in digital inclusion and connectivity where speed, reliability, and reach converge to transform everyday life for people and businesses alike.
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