Claro enters Colombia's MVNO market as Movil Exito adds network

Details: Manny Pham; Category: Operators; 01 October 2026; 1591 views

Claro Colombia has entered the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) hosting market for the first time, signing an agreement with Movil Exito to provide network access alongside its existing arrangement with Tigo.

Movil Exito, the MVNO operated by Grupo Exito, has used Colombia Movil-Tigo's network for the past 12 years. The new agreement will allow its customers to access Claro's infrastructure as well, expanding the network options available to its approximately 2.2 million users.

Movil Exito began operating in 2013 and provides mobile services without owning its own radio access network, instead relying on infrastructure from mobile network operators. Customers using the new Claro option can retain their existing mobile numbers.

Claro's entry gives Colombian MVNOs an additional host network at a time when the country's mobile market is being reshaped by Millicom's integration of Tigo and Movistar. Tigo and Movistar have historically been the main network operators supporting MVNOs in the country.

According to El Colombiano, which reported the agreement, Claro has 4G coverage across all 1,104 municipalities in Colombia, supported by more than 10,600 towers, while its 5G network is available in more than 100 cities.

The move comes as Colombia's MVNO market shows signs of recovery. Data from the Communications Regulatory Commission (CRC) showed that MVNOs collectively reduced their net negative balance from mobile number portability to around 40,000 lines in the first quarter of 2026, a 57.5% improvement from the same period in 2025.

Movil Exito recorded a net gain of 1,638 lines through portability during the quarter, while ETB gained 3,316, Plintron 2,073 and Suma Movil 1,431.

The broader Colombian mobile market had 92.9 million lines in 2025, according to CRC and Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies data. Claro held 44.8% of the market, while the combined Tigo-Movistar business held 41.5%.

For Claro, the agreement creates a new wholesale revenue opportunity by opening its network to an established MVNO. For Movil Exito, using two host networks provides an additional route to expand coverage and compete for customers without having to build its own mobile network.