Claro Just Announced $600 Million in Ecuador Investment — Including 5G in Quito and Guayaquil

The Announcement

Claro (owned by Carlos Slim's América Móvil) will invest $600 million over three years in Ecuador to modernize its network, expand mobile coverage, and roll out 5G service.

The announcement followed a meeting between América Móvil CEO Daniel Hajj and President Noboa, and comes alongside Claro's spectrum license renewal through 2038 — giving the company a long runway to recoup the investment.

Where 5G Is Available Now

Claro's 5G is already live in select areas of:

• Guayaquil — Ecuador's largest city and commercial capital
• Quito — the capital
• Puerto Ayora — the main town in the Galápagos Islands
• Coca (Francisco de Orellana) — the gateway city to the Amazon oil region

This makes Claro the second carrier to offer 5G in Ecuador after state-owned CNT, which recently launched 5G in Cuenca, Quito, and other cities.

What the $600 Million Covers

• Network modernization — upgrading existing 4G infrastructure across the country
• Coverage expansion — extending service to underserved areas
• 5G deployment — new base stations in additional cities (timeline not yet announced)
• Digital services — cloud, IoT, and enterprise connectivity products

What This Means for Expats

If you're on Claro:

• 5G is available now in Quito and Guayaquil if you have a compatible phone and plan
• Check with Claro whether your current plan includes 5G access — not all plans do
• Network quality across Ecuador should improve generally over the next three years

If you're on CNT or Movistar:

• Competition is good news. Claro's investment will push CNT and Movistar to accelerate their own upgrades
• CNT already has 5G in several cities; Movistar hasn't announced 5G dates yet

For remote workers and digital nomads:

• Two carriers now offering 5G means better backup options for mobile connectivity
• Real-world 5G speeds (when available) will be significantly faster than 4G — useful for video calls, large file transfers, and hotspot usage
• Don't expect nationwide 5G anytime soon — initial coverage is limited to high-traffic urban areas

The broader picture: Ecuador's telecom infrastructure has been a weak point for years, especially outside major cities. $600 million from Claro plus CNT's $30 million 5G investment represents a meaningful upgrade cycle.

Sources: BNamericas, Data Center Dynamics, El Universo