Colombia approves Tigo-Movistar merger, creating carrier with 48% market share

Colombian regulators have approved the merger of telecom operators Tigo and Movistar, clearing the way for a combined carrier that will control roughly 48% of the country's mobile market. The deal creates a significantly stronger competitor to Claro, which has long held the largest share of Colombia's telecommunications sector.

As a condition of approval, regulators required a four-year freeze on changes to existing customer plans, meaning current subscribers will keep their rates and services unchanged during the transition period. The measure is intended to protect consumers from price increases or service downgrades following the consolidation.

Regulators also mandated that the merged company provide wholesale network access to smaller virtual mobile operators, a step aimed at preserving competition in a market that will now be dominated by two large players. The merger reflects a broader wave of telecom consolidation across Latin America as operators seek scale to fund network investment.