After measuring the coverage and speed of 4G networks in more than 330,000 users in 68 countries, the specialized consultancy OpenSignal came to the conclusion that while in some countries it is perfectly established, in others "it is still in its adolescence".
And Latin America is not doing well, it is lagging behind in implementing its 4G network... with one exception: Uruguay, which is among the countries with the best coverage in the world.
Uruguay, among the best
OpenSignal's report covers both the extent of coverage in each country and the average speed provided by each country's 4G network.
In terms of the degree of coverage, these are the six countries with the most extensive network:
- South Korea: the 4G network covers 97% of the territory.
- Japan: Available in 90% of the country.
- Hong Kong: 86%.
- Kuwait: 86% offer this service.
- Uruguay: tied with Singapore, with coverage in 84% of the country.
Uruguay was in 2011 one of the pioneers in using this technology in Latin America and really means a rarity in the region in this matter.
The next Latin American country to appear on this list is Bolivia, which, with a coverage of 67%, is in 23rd place out of the 68 countries analysed.
Peru and Mexico rank 30th and 33rd with 61% and 60% coverage, respectively.
The extent of network coverage is one thing, the speed it provides is another.
In this respect, these are the leading countries:
New Zealand has the fastest 4G network in the world at 36 megabits per second (Mbps).
It is followed by Singapore with 33 Mbps, Romania with 30 Mbps, South Korea with 29 Mpbs and Denmark with 26 Mbps.
The first Latin American country with the fastest 4G network is the Dominican Republic, which with 17 Mbps ranks 21st of those analyzed. It is followed by Brazil, with 17, and Uruguay and Colombia with 15 Mbps.
The worst
The fact that this technology is still lagging far behind in Latin America is evidenced by the fact that several countries in the region are at the bottom of the list.
Regarding the level of coverage, the worst country among those analysed is Sri Lanka, with only 38% of the territory.
Next in line is Ecuador, which, like the Philippines, only has 4G networks in 39% of the country.
The next country among the laggards is also Latin American: Argentina, with 42% coverage.
Costa Rica and Chile also rank among the worst. With 45% and 47%, they rank seventh and ninth from the bottom.
In terms of speed, several Latin American countries are also among the worst.
The country with the slowest speed is Costa Rica, which shares this dubious honor with Iran. Both with an average speed of 3 megabits per second. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia follow with 4Mbps and, already placed fifth and eighth from the bottom, two other Latin American countries: Bolivia (6 Mbps) and Ecuador (8 Mbps).
Antel reaffirms day by day its permanent commitment to offer all Uruguayans the best Internet connection: changing the entire infrastructure in the access through mobile data networks from 2G to 3G, promoting the deployment of the first LTE network in Latin America, and providing access solutions on mobile networks available to the entire population through the vera LTE plans, which have exceeded 500,000 services to date.
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