Panama - This year, a tender will be held to bring in a third mobile phone operator, as confirmed by Zelmar Rodríguez Crespo, General Administrator of the National Authority for Public Services (ASEP). The announcement was made today during the launch of a microsite that will provide interested parties with information on Panama's mobile phone market. The microsite offers a complete overview of the mobile phone market, including the current situation, socio-economic impact, trends, and prospects. The addition of a third competitor aims to boost competition, offer more options to users, and strengthen digital infrastructure. Panama closed 2025 with over 5 million active lines, 79% of which belong to the prepaid sector and 21% to the postpaid sector. Additionally, number portability has reached 5.5 million movements since its implementation in 2011, reflecting a highly dynamic and attractive market for new telecommunications investments. The site also facilitates access to legal regulations and documentation of the public tender process. Since February 2025, ASEP has reiterated that the country is ready to expand the market, which is currently dominated by only two active operators. It also details the assigned radio spectrum (IMT Bands) and allows for visualization of the country's digital infrastructure: radio bases, telecommunication towers, fiber optics, submarine cables, and data centers.
