Overview

Major telecommunication companies have installed their Network Operations Centers in Panama, availing the comparative advantage of Panama’s geographical position and the abundant supply of submarine fiber optic communication circuits on both coasts, making interconnection possible with North America, Latin America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and the entire world.   The seven submarine fiber optic cable system that converge in the country interconnect with the region through the project Central American Electrical Interconnection System (Siepac, in Spanish), and with the Central American fiber optic trunk line better known as RedCA or Central American Telecommunications Network.   

Likewise, telecommunications service operators have deployed extensive infrastructure networks throughout the country, which has allowed a penetration of internet users, as well as mobile cellular users at 70.3% and 96% respectively.  It is an extensive mobile network typically made up of redundant tower and wireless systems (microwave and fiber) that interconnects them, of which operators (private) are supplied to provide their services nationwide. 

Similarly, at a State level, there are microwave networks (backbones) deployed to the main transmission sites of the country for matters of public security (Ministry of Security and Police) and broadcasting (State Broadcasting System –SERTV, in Spanish). 

Telecommunication service operators offer their data plans to customers through their web pages and by means of traditional advertising. 

Private Sector

Telecommunication services are authorized to be operated commercially or for their own purposes.  In this sense, presently, in operation are found 223 concessions for commercial use granted by the National Public Service Authority (ASEP, in Spanish) for different telecommunication services.

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

Telecommunication Regulations

Telecommunications in the Republic of Panama is a public service and is regulated by Law No. 31 of 8 February 1996.  The law establishes the separation of regulatory and control operations that come under the Regulatory Body and those related to use and operation of telecommunications services.

Law No. 31 establishes that the Public Service Regulatory Body, currently ASEP (National Public Service Authority), has the purpose of regulating, ordering, supervising and effectively standardizing, among others, the operation and administration of the telecommunications services in the country.

Similarly, the public services of Radio and Television are found regulated through Law No. 24 of 30 June 1999, which establishes the legal and technical basis for the operation of these services, and additionally cites the functions that the National Public Service Authority shall have as a regulatory body in this matter. 

ASEP, through the National Telecommunications Directorate, aims to regulate, order, supervise and effectively standardize the operation and administration of the telecommunications services, including radio and television, as well as radio-electric domain; which is stated through the resolutions issued in conformance to the legal provisions that regulate this matter.   

Existing Humanitarian Telecoms Systems

Article 18 of the Executive Decree No. 73, requires concessionaires of basic telecommunications services to establish a Contingency Plan for the rendering of the essential communications services, and the transmission of emergency messages in case of international warfare, internal commotion, natural disaster, public calamity and/or stoppage of public services.  The Contingency Plan is placed for approval by the Regulatory Body, which must be updated periodically by each concessionaire

Contingency Plans are submitted confidentially and are not publicly disclosed.  

The “Pilot Project for the placing an alternate regional emergency telecommunications network in the Americas,” is found aligned with these purposes.  In 2019, the National Civil Protection Service (Sinaproc, in Spanish), received in donation an Alternate Telecommunications Network termed “Winklink” from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).  Such consists of a global messaging system for emergency communications and message repetitions when there is no internet access due to disaster.  Such uses radio frequencies for the purpose of providing services such as e-mail, HTML templates, update reports and weather bulletins.  The equipment was installed by technicians from the National Public Service Authority (ASEP), Sinaproc and the ITU, at the headquarters of the Regional Logistics Center for Humanitarian Assistance (CLRAH, in Spanish), at the building assigned to SINAPROC.  The “Winklink” team is managed by SINAPROC.    

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

Only companies with ASEP concessions may provide internet service for public use.  The regulations in force concerning the Internet Service for Public Use establishes the obligation, of the concessionaires of this service, to divulge updated information concerning the bandwidth offered and price.

Mobile Network Operators (MNOs)

Mobile operators do not have their own platforms to manage mobile money services. The regulatory requirements that could affect the use of the mobile money at the national level are linked to the Superintendence of Banks through Agreement No. 006-2011 of 6 December 2011, which places guidelines on electronic banking, and related risk management. 

For information on MNOs please visit the GSM Association website.