Type | State-owned |
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Genre | Telecommunications |
Founded | 1974 |
Founder(s) | Juan María Bordaberry |
Headquarters | Montevideo, Uruguay |
Area served | Uruguay |
Key people | Carolina Cosse (President) |
Revenue | U$S700.000.000 |
Owner(s) | Government of Uruguay |
Divisions | Antel Moviles, Antel Datos e Internet |
Website | www.antel.com.uy |
ANTEL (Administración Nacional de Telecomunicaciones; Spanish: National Association of Telecommunications) is Uruguay's government-owned telecommunications company, founded in 1974. The company has a monopoly of landline telephony and data services in the country. They also provide mobile phone services (in direct competition with Claro and Movistar) and Internet-related services, being the only provider of ADSL and land-line data services because of the monopoly situation.
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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. Antel enjoys a monopoly on land lines in Uruguay.
As of 2008 ANTEL's monopoly status also forbids cable operators even in larger cities, such as Montevideo, to provide data services (Internet) or voice services along with their cable service.
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.