El Salvador

Mobile networks and carriers in El Salvador use 3 GSM bands, 3 UMTS bands, and 3 LTE bands. Find out if your unlocked phone or mobile device will work in El Salvador. See the tables below for details.

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El Salvador's mobile network has undergone significant development since the 1990s. Initially, telecommunication services were provided solely by the state through the National Administration for Communications (ANTEL). However, in 1996, the Salvadorian Congress created the Electricity and Telecommunication General Superintendence, and in 1997, the Telecommunication Law was enacted, paving the way for privatization. This led to the division of ANTEL into two companies: CTE-ANTEL for wired services and INTEL for wireless services.

In 1998, CTE-ANTEL was sold to France Telecom, while INTEL was acquired by Telefónica from Spain. The regulatory body, the General Superintendence of Electrical Power and Telecommunications (SIGET), was established in 1998 to oversee the telecommunication sector, including setting maximum charges for landlines and mobile services.

By 2005, 82.42 percent of mobile phone subscribers in El Salvador had prepaid plans, a higher percentage compared to other Central American countries. This was also the year when El Salvador became the only country in Central America with four mobile companies.

In 2011, the Superintendence of Competition accused several mobile companies, including Telemóvil El Salvador, Digicel, Telefónica Móviles El Salvador, and Intelfón, of colluding to keep prices artificially high. The companies were fined, with Telemóvil El Salvador paying over $1 million in fines.

Mobile Number Portability was introduced in 2015, allowing subscribers to change their mobile operators without losing their phone numbers. By 2018, over 680,000 subscribers had used this service. The telecom penetration rate in El Salvador is approximately 153 percent, indicating a high number of mobile phones relative to the population.

By the first quarter of 2016, 82 percent of the country's territory had access to mobile network coverage, mainly in urban areas. The mobile network covers 93 percent of the territory and 92 percent of the population, with 4G LTE services being introduced in 2019 after the allocation of suitable spectrum by SIGET.

Today, América Móvil, Grupo IBW, General International Telecom Limited, and Tigo El Salvador offer high-speed data and internet services. The regulatory authority SIGET continues to oversee the sector, ensuring competition and fair market practices. The country has ambitious plans to modernize its telecommunications infrastructure, including the allocation of the 6GHz band for unlicensed technologies to enhance Wi-Fi capabilities.

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Carriers

Name	# of frequency bands in use
Claro	3
Digicel	5
Movistar	4
Tigo	4

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Frequencies in use

GSM

Name	Interface
850 MHz	GSM
900 MHz (E-GSM)	GSM
1900 MHz (PCS)	GSM

UMTS

Name	Interface
B2 (1900 MHz PCS)	UMTS
B5 (850 MHz)	UMTS
B8 (900 MHz GSM)	UMTS

LTE

Name	Interface
B2 (1900 MHz PCS)	LTE
B5 (850 MHz)	LTE
B8 (900 MHz)	LTE

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