Entel in Chile

The figures on this page come from SUBTEL, Chile’s telecoms regulator, from Entel’s own releases and from the 2025 report of Almendral, its parent company, each with its date.

How many lines does Entel carry?

In SUBTEL’s figures, a mobile line counts once it has carried traffic in the last 30 days. In June 2026 it counted 8,136,180 on Entel, or 34.3% of the 23,716,600 lines in the country. In the same month Movistar had 22.8%, Claro 21.6% and WOM 20.4%. Most Entel lines are on contract: 6,689,389 in June 2026, against 1,446,791 prepaid.

Data tells a similar story. SUBTEL’s count of mobile internet connections for June 2026 puts 4,294,534 Entel connections on 5G, which is 39.7% of the 10.8 million 5G connections in Chile, and 3,584,810 on 4G.

When did Entel’s 4G and 5G start?

Entel switched on 4G in March 2014 on the 2.6 GHz band, in every region at once, with 803 points of presence. Its general manager said at the time that coverage on that band was mainly outdoors. In March 2017 Entel opened its 700 MHz network in all regions, after building 660 4G stations for about US$100 million.

The first stage of 5G followed on 16 December 2021, for residents of 33 communes of the Metropolitan Region, Santiago, Providencia, Renca and La Pintana among them. Entel announced an initial budget of about US$230 million over three years. Almendral’s report dates its 3.5 GHz licence to 2021, and says Entel had almost 3.9 million 5G users in Chile at the end of 2025, 34.3% more than a year earlier.

Who owns Entel?

The company is Empresa Nacional de Telecomunicaciones S.A., set up as a public limited company in August 1964. Almendral S.A., a holding company with no operations of its own, took control in March 2005 when it bought 54.76% from Telecom Italia for US$934 million. Its report for 2025 gives the stake as 54.86% of Entel’s shares. Entel also runs a mobile business in Peru, which made up 33% of its consolidated EBITDA in 2025.

Signal beyond the towers

Where no mast reaches, Entel offers a satellite link through Starlink’s Direct to Cell service, which it launched in 2025. Almendral’s report says it lets a phone send text messages from remote areas with no land coverage, and names Queulat National Park, Rapa Nui and areas at sea. The same report lists the start of commercial service in Antarctica among Entel’s steps in 2024.

eSIM on Entel lines

Entel’s eSIM page says the digital chip has no cost and is requested in the Entel app or at an Entel store, with an Entel mobile plan. In the app the holder confirms their identity with a face scan and needs Wi-Fi to install the eSIM. Since October 2025 a physical SIM can be swapped for an eSIM in the app, and someone who is not yet a customer can open a new line, or move a number to Entel, directly on an eSIM.

What does a visitor need for an Entel prepaid line?

Since 20 August 2026, SUBTEL’s rules make every prepaid line carry its holder’s details, including a national ID card or passport number. A new line only starts working, and an old one only takes a recharge, once that check is done, online or in a store. An existing line whose holder skips it for 10 calendar days stops accepting recharges until it is completed.

The handset is a separate check. Under the IMEI rules in force since February 2019, a phone bought abroad works on a Chilean SIM for 30 days from its first connection. To keep it working, register its IMEI through the mobile company or an approved certifier within 60 days of arrival, with a passport or proof of entry and a photo of the IMEI.

Install the eSIMSwitch it on after landingNo connection