Overview

In 2010, Article 8 of the Telecommunications Law, Official Gazette No. 67, Volume No. 387, dated 04/14/10, gave the provisions to the SIGET (General Superintendence of Electricity and Telecommunications) to fix the maximum value in both the basic rates of the public fixed and mobile telephony service, such as basic interconnection charges. The Regulation of the Telecommunications Law has undergone several reforms, including the following: July 2011, Official Gazette of 07/15/11, No 133, Volume No 392. July 2012, Official Gazette of 07/24/12, No 137, Volume No 396. October 2012, Official Gazette of 10/26/12, No 201, Volume No 397.

The new Telecommunications Law allowed the opening of new companies for both fixed and mobile telephony and also television, giving the country an important boost to the extent that currently the number of mobile phones exceeds that of inhabitants, and cable television signals they have proliferated through local operators even in small towns.

As of May 2013, eight fixed telephony operators (CTE SA de CV, El Salvador Network, SA, GCA Telecom SA de CV, Telecam SA de CV, Telemovil El Salvador, SA de CV, are in operation and offering the telephony service to end users). Digicel, SA de CV, Telefonía Móviles El Salvador, SA de CV, CTE Telecom Personal, SA de CV). The last four companies provide fixed and mobile telephony services and five mobile telephony operators (CTE Telecom Personal SA de CV, Telefónica Móviles SA de CV, Digicel SA de CV, Telemóvil El Salvador SA, Intelfon SA de CV) The latter also offers the trunked digital radio service. There are other companies that have a concession to provide public telephony service, however, to date they only offer intermediate services (four companies). In addition, other companies are in the process of marketing telephony services. The growth of competition has allowed users to have more options of choice, greater coverage throughout the country and more competitive telephone rates. It should be noted that the growth of mobile telephony through the explosive technology of cell phones has been stagnating and even reducing the growth of fixed telephony. Mobile telephony, in addition to offering the advantage of its physical portability, offers new messaging services, data, images, internet access and other services whose growth has become vertiginous.

There are four main providers in El Salvador: Tigo, Claro, Movistar and Digicel. Each has been tried and tested by locals and visitors, and they can all be trusted. According to the OpenSignal country signal map, El Salvador's network is good near major cities and urban areas, but once you head towards the outer, more suburban regions, it can get worse. However, El Salvador remains "fair" among its global and Central American peers in terms of coverage.

The Salvadoran market leader is Tigo, followed by Claro, Movistar and Digicel. The four operators offer prepaid SIM cards and they can be purchased in stores, supermarkets, kiosks, pharmacies, official stores and at the El Salvador International Airport. 2G, 3G and 4G wireless plans are available on all networks for unlocked GSM phones. SIM cards can be purchased by showing your passport, and your phone number activates them. To add credit, you can buy store and supermarket vouchers, and it can also be collected online. Below we have divided each telecommunications provider to highlight exactly what they can offer you during your stay in El Salvador.

Source:

https://www.siget.gob.sv/las-telecomunicaciones-en-el-salvador/

For more information on telecoms contacts, please see the following link: 4.11 Additional Services Contact List.

Telecommunications Regulations

One of the factors that have favored the growth of mobile telephony is the prepaid mode under which the user can buy services in small batches, without being contractually bound to a minimum term or consumption. The current pricing system in El Salvador favors communication through a system where only the caller pays.

The wireless communication infrastructure and the location of the transmission towers in prominent geographical sites, has allowed the country to practically all the national territory to be covered with signal, which has opened the service for the entire rural area with the consequent benefits that this it means.

Specific Faculties of the SIGET:

• Apply the treaties, laws and regulations required by the activities of the electricity and telecommunications sectors. Approve the rates referred to in the electricity and telecommunications laws.
• Settle disputes between operators in the electricity and telecommunications sectors, in accordance with the provisions of the applicable regulations.
• Inform the respective authority of the existence of practices that threaten free competition.
• Represent the country before international organizations related to the electricity and telecommunications sectors.
• Carry out the orbits of foreign satellites and coordinate their operation with foreign satellites; as well as with international organizations and companies.
• Carry out all the acts, contracts, and operations that are necessary to fulfill the objectives imposed by the laws, regulations and other general provisions.
• The interconnection of networks is mandatory for operators that provide telecommunications services as it is an essential resource, according to article 19 of the Law.

Existing Humanitarian Telecoms Systems

The existing humanitarian telecommunication systems are:

-Bandwidth: 25 KHz

-Hardware Version: Motorola GP/DGP SERIES, Motorola DMR Series, Motorola repeater

-Technology: Motorola digital

-Central repeater: Motorola Mototurbo

-Link: Motorola

-Back to Back: GM-300 (2 sites)

-Possibility of sharing

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

Internet in the country is easy and done as mentioned above by the four companies: CLARO, DIGICEL, TIGO AND MOVISTAR. Connection can be purchase as stores, supermarkets, or company’s office.

Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) 

Tigo is the largest operator in El Salvador with a 32% market share. It has the best coverage, but it comes with the highest rates. This provider offers customers 2G, 3G and 4G / LTE services. Prepaid SIM cards can be purchased for as little as US $ 1, depending on the promotion. Standard, mini and micro SIM cards can be purchased from official stores, authorized dealers and some supermarkets. SIM cards come with 75MB of data and are valid for 2 days, until you add credit plans. There was a 5% tax charge added to all purchases, and balance vouchers can be purchased for numerous amounts starting at US $ 1.05, but the tax was eliminated in 2021. You can also complete the cards using the Tigo app.

As another option, Pacetigos data packages can be purchased. The table below provides details, including the activation code in the right column that you must type to 404.

At the moment TIGO is the only company to provide mobile money.

https://www.claro.com.sv/personas/servicios/servicios-moviles/prepago/planes-y-precios/

https://www.tigo.com.sv/shop

https://www.movistar.com.sv/

https://www.digicelgroup.com/sv/es/mobile.html

For information on MNOs please visit the GSM Association website.