Bitel Overview
Bitel is a major telecom operator in Peru, affiliated with the Vietnamese state-owned telecommunications company Viettel. Bitel started operations in Peru in October 2014, initially holding only a 1% market share, and quickly grew through aggressive investment and a high-quality network. In 2023, Bitel's market share was about 19%, totaling approximately 41.5% along with Entel Perú. Bitel has the largest fiber optic network in Peru (about 26,000 km) and the most 4G base stations (about 3,200-3,300), and from 2015 to 2017, it was the fastest-growing operator in the Peruvian market for three consecutive years.
Bitel uses its 4G coverage and fibre backbone to offer enterprises M2M connectivity, private APNs, and fixed IP addresses for mining, agriculture, logistics, and finance.
Bitel Basic Information
- Established: October 2014
- Headquarters: Lima, Peru
- Parent Company: Vietnam Viettel (state-owned)
- Market Share: About 19% (2023)
- Fiber network: Approximately 26,000 km (largest in Peru)
- 4G base stations: Approximately 3,200-3,300 (most in Peru)
- 2018: Approximately 5.1 million users, 13.5% share
- Network Standards: 4G LTE, 5G NR, NB-IoT, LTE-M
- Market structure: Claro about 30.2%, Movistar about 28%, Bitel about 19%, Entel about 22.5%
Development History and Milestones
Bitel started operations in Peru in October 2014, initially holding only 1% market share. By September 2016, it reached 7.9%, grew 3.7 percentage points to 13.5% in 2017, and reached 5.1 million users by mid-2018. Bitel was the fastest-growing operator in the Peruvian market for three consecutive years from 2015 to 2017. The company invested heavily in network construction and announced an aggressive LTE expansion plan in 2018, targeting an 18% market share. In 2023, Bitel reached about 19% share, totaling 41.5% together with Entel Perú, with Claro leading at about 30.2% and Movistar at about 28%.
Core Technical Capabilities
4G footprint
The most 4G base stations in Peru, about 3,200–3,300
Fiber Backbone
Peru's largest fiber network, approximately 26,000 kilometers
Fastest Growing
Fastest growth for three consecutive years from 2015 to 2017
Viettel parent
State-owned Vietnamese group, with operating experience in 11 countries
Network standards and coverage
| Technical Standard | Coverage | Use Cases | Development Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4G LTE | Largest 4G coverage in Peru | Mainstream IoT Connection | Main Network |
| 5G NR | Major cities | High-speed mobility, industrial 5G | Rapid construction |
| Fiber Backbone | About 26,000 kilometers | Enterprise dedicated lines, fixed IoT | Largest in Peru |
Industry Solutions
Mining industry
- Remote monitoring of mining equipment
- Pipeline and Facility Monitoring
- Energy measurement
Agriculture
- Farmland sensors
- Agricultural machinery GPS tracking
- Agricultural Product Cold Chain
Logistics and Transportation
- Fleet Management
- Cargo tracking
- Port logistics
Financial Retail
- POS terminal connection
- ATM remote monitoring
- Branch network
Competitive Advantages
- 4G Leader: The most 4G base stations in Peru, widest coverage
- Largest Fiber Optics: About 26,000 km of fiber, supporting enterprise dedicated lines
- Growth Momentum: Fastest growth for three consecutive years from 2015 to 2017
- Viettel: Vietnamese state-owned telecom, operating in 11 countries
- Price Competitiveness: Emerging operator, proactive pricing strategy