--- title: Carriers Are Restructuring Across Latin America. Is Disruption on the Horizon? description: Shifts in strategy, corporate structure, assets, and regulation can have noteworthy carrier consequences. We’re seeing this across Latin America right now. image: https://resources.telegeography.com/hubfs/2020/Blog%20Assets/rio-de-janeiro-4566312_1280.jpg --- [![TG\_LOGO](https://resources.telegeography.com/hubfs/TeleGeography%20Hub%20Theme%20Nov%202025/images/TG_LOGO.svg)](https://www2.telegeography.com/) - [About](https://www2.telegeography.com/about-us) - [Research](https://www2.telegeography.com/our-research) - [Products](https://www2.telegeography.com/products) - [Solutions](https://www2.telegeography.com/solutions) - [Resources](https://resources.telegeography.com) [Log In](https://www.telegeography.com/login/login?service=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegeography.com%2Faccount%2Fhome%2Findex) [Contact](https://www2.telegeography.com/contact-us) ###### Data and Analysis Tools - [Cloud and WAN Research Service](https://www2.telegeography.com/cloud-and-wan-infrastructure) - [Data Center Research Service](https://www2.telegeography.com/data-center-research-service) - [GlobalComms Database](https://www2.telegeography.com/globalcomms-database-service) - [International Voice Report](https://www2.telegeography.com/telegeography-report-and-database) - [IP Networks Research Service](https://www2.telegeography.com/ip-networks-research-service) - [ISP Navigator](https://www2.telegeography.com/isp-navigatorisp-navigator) - [Transport Networks Research Service](https://www2.telegeography.com/transport-networks) - [Network Pricing Database](https://www2.telegeography.com/telegeography-pricing-database) - [WAN Cost Benchmark](https://www2.telegeography.com/wan-cost-benchmark) - [Product Passes](https://www2.telegeography.com/product-passes) ###### Consulting - [All Consulting Services](https://www2.telegeography.com/consulting) - [Submarine Cable Consulting](https://www2.telegeography.com/submarine-cable-consulting) ###### Maps - [All Map Services](https://www2.telegeography.com/map-services) - [Sponsor a Map](https://www2.telegeography.com/sponsor-a-map) - [License Map Data](https://www2.telegeography.com/license-geocoded-map-data) - [Cite a Map](https://www2.telegeography.com/cite-telegeography-map) - [Buy a Map](https://shop.telegeography.com/collections/telecom-maps/) ###### Industry - [Education](https://www2.telegeography.com/telegeography-for-education) - [Enterprise](https://www2.telegeography.com/enterprise) - [Tech](https://www2.telegeography.com/tech) - [Telecom](https://www2.telegeography.com/telecom) ###### Case Studies - [AI + Retail Telecom Data](https://www2.telegeography.com/where-to-get-global-telecom-data) - [EXA Infrastructure](https://www2.telegeography.com/exa-infrastructure-case-study) - [Orange Wholesale](https://www2.telegeography.com/orange-wholesale-case-study) - [The European Commission](https://www2.telegeography.com/the-european-commissions-data-backed-approach-to-international-policy) [Back to Resources](https://resources.telegeography.com) # Carriers Are Restructuring Across Latin America. Is Disruption on the Horizon? ##### By [Peter Wood,](https://resources.telegeography.com/author/peter-wood) Sep 15, 2020 [Pricing](https://resources.telegeography.com/tag/pricing) [Retail](https://resources.telegeography.com/tag/retail) Market patterns aren’t the only forces impacting carriers. Shifts in strategy, corporate structure, assets, and regulation can also have noteworthy consequences. We’re seeing this across Latin America right now. ### **Carriers Bid on Bankrupt Oi’s Assets** One of Latin America’s largest ongoing market shifts involves Oi. The third-largest broadband operator in Brazil, Oi has seen its market share grow smaller amid corporate restructuring following bankruptcy. Although this is an ongoing process expected to carry over into 2021, its ramifications will last much longer. As [multiple carriers make bids to purchase Oi’s auctioned assets](https://www.commsupdate.com/articles/2020/07/23/highline-submits-leading-bid-for-ois-mobile-unit-company-also-bids-for-towers/) (including fiber), the market could see increased competition or consolidation of carrier options. ### **Telebras to Privatize Once More?** On a potentially similar note, Brazilian officials have conveyed their intention to privatize Telebras, the country’s nationalized, “open capital” telco. Telebras was previously split up, privatized, and auctioned in 12 units in 1998, with one of those companies eventually becoming present-day Oi. In 2010, Telebras was reborn as a new iteration of the same state-owned company. It remains unclear if [Telebras will become privatized once again](https://www.commsupdate.com/articles/2020/08/12/telebras-set-for-privatisation/), and if so, under what terms and conditions. In any case, changes to the company’s structure have the potential to become a market disruptor and impact prices for local and international routes. ### **Regulatory Responses to Telefónica Divestment** Outside of Brazil, the divestment of Telefónica assets in several Latin American countries has been met with local regulatory changes to prevent market monopolization. These regulatory shifts aim to contain the presence of large, international ISPs, or cap regional companies trying to expand their market share. Telefónica has voiced their plan to remain active in Brazil under its Telxius brand, but is scaling back operations elsewhere in the region. As with Oi and Telebras, such a process could expand or consolidate the number of carriers in a given country. With the former, we see price reduction throughout the market. ### **Chinese Investment? Maybe.** Over the past few years, Latin America experienced a shift toward increased network construction. This surge continues, with new terrestrial and subsea cables launching throughout the region. Much of the international cable ownership has come from U.S., European, and Mexican companies, but there is reason to believe this might change. Chinese investment in Latin American wavelength infrastructure seems plausible, considering the interest in Sino-Latin American collaboration for 5G network creation. Chinese investment in foreign infrastructure projects is not new, even in Latin America. But current geopolitical tensions cast a large shadow over what may or may not transpire. In any case, the potential for cable and route diversification—Chinese funded or otherwise—brings the possibility of further lower bandwidth prices.   *This information comes from our latest and greatest Bandwidth Pricing Report, part of TeleGeography's unique [Pricing Suite](https://www2.telegeography.com/telegeography-pricing-suite). To read more like this—and to tie it to our treasure trove of pricing data—log into your subscription at [TeleGeography.com](https://www.telegeography.com/account/). Or [ask our sales team](mailto:sales@telegeography.com) about how to access the Pricing Suite.*  ![Peter Wood](https://resources.telegeography.com/hubfs/tg-staff/peter-wood-telegeography.png) #### Peter Wood Peter Wood is a Senior Research Analyst at TeleGeography. His work focuses on network services and connectivity pricing in the Americas, with particular emphasis on Latin America and the Caribbean. His professional and academic background includes serving as a postdoctoral fellow in the Center for Regional Development and Planning at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and earning a doctorate in Geography from Florida State University. 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