Narayan AmmachchiClaro, the Ecuadorian unit of América Móvil, is ramping up capital expenditure in Ecuador with a fresh $600 million investment aimed at strengthening network capacity and accelerating 5G rollout.
The government sources said the investment will focus on upgrading telecom infrastructure and equipment to enhance service quality, while also enabling the growth of emerging sectors such as Industry 4.0, telemedicine, and digital education.
The funding comes on top of spectrum renewal agreements signed in late 2025, under which the operator committed nearly $597 million to extend its frequency rights through 2038 and secure additional airwaves for next-generation services.
The move signals a long-term bet on data growth and digital adoption in one of the Andean region’s fastest-evolving telecom markets.
Claro commercially launched 5G services in December across key cities including Guayaquil and Quito, and has already deployed close to 100 5G antennas in the 3.3 GHz band, according to regulator Arcotel. With more than 11,800 base stations nationwide, it remains the country’s largest mobile operator by infrastructure scale.
The investment push also reflects intensifying competition. Millicom — which recently acquired Movistar’s local operations — is planning over $350 million in network expansion, alongside fresh spending on 5G spectrum.
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