ANTEL (Administración Nacional de Telecomunicaciones) is Uruguay's government-owned telecommunications company. It was founded in 1974. The company has a monopoly of land line telephony and data services in the country. They also provide (in direct competition with Claro and Movistar) cellular telephony services and broad range of Internet related services, being the major provider in both cases, and the only provider of ADSL and land-line data services because of the monopoly situation.
Failed privatization and Monopoly status
In 1992, under the presidency of Luis Alberto Lacalle, a privatization of all government-owned companies was attempted. However, a later referendum revoked the privatizations law, being Pluna the only company to be successfully privatized to Varig.citation needed Antel enjoys a monopoly on land lines in Uruguay, granting it an advantage when it comes to end-users and company services that other telecommunications companies in Uruguay have to implement using radio links. Internet and data services in Uruguay remain as one of the most expensive in the region, and the lack of competition in this area seems as one of the reasons why prices are still high. When Claro (formerly CTI Movil) tried to enter the Mobile market in Uruguay, ANTEL (and it Mobile company ANCEL) made many demonstrations against a third mobile operator in the country, and trusted that the then new-elected president would veto CTI Movil entering the market. This never happened, and Claro/CTI Movil was a key player in making Mobile communication prices go down.
As of 2008, ANTEL's monopoly status also forbids cable operators even in larger cities, such as Montevideo, to provide data services (Internet) along with the cable service. Cable operators can not provide voice services either. That has not helped in bringing prices of Internet and basic phone services down.
Telecommunications tower
Torre de las Telecomunicaciones (ANTEL)
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Antel owns Uruguay's tallest skyscraper, the Telecommunications Tower, which has 160 meters and 35 floors. It is the tallest building in the country. It was designed by architect Carlos Ott. It is situated by the side of Montevideo's bay.
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