Telecommunications operator Tigo, fully controlled by Luxembourg‑based Millicom, has officially launched the final stage of its integration with Movistar in Colombia. The move, branded under the slogan “Movistar ahora es Tigo,” will see the Spanish‑origin Movistar brand disappear from the Colombian market by November, leaving Tigo as the sole brand operating in the country.
Brand Transition and Timeline
The unification campaign began in mid‑October 2026 and is set to conclude throughout November, after which all services will be marketed exclusively under the Tigo name. According to Carlos Blanco, president of Tigo, the corporate integration was structured in three key financial phases: the purchase of EPM’s stake in January, the acquisition of a portion of Telefónica’s holding in February, and the purchase of the Colombian state’s shares in Coltel toward the end of April. Since that date, both companies have operated under a single executive leadership.
Investment Plan and Infrastructure Expansion
Millicom announced a four‑year investment plan worth 8.5 trillion Colombian pesos (approximately US$2.1 billion) for the period 2026‑2029. This figure is in addition to the 4.5 trillion pesos already allocated for prior corporate consolidation efforts.
The investment will focus heavily on expanding 5G coverage, with the number of municipalities served rising from 128 to more than 330. This translates to roughly 4,000 dedicated 5G stations nationwide. In parallel, the company will install 1,100 entirely new mobile stations in rural or poorly connected areas, aiming to bring service to about half a million people who currently lack access and to improve signal quality for an additional three million inhabitants.
Fixed‑line infrastructure will also be strengthened through the deployment of optical‑fibre rings linking major cities, and the data‑center footprint will grow from two to four high‑capacity facilities. These centers will provide interconnected backup services across Millicom’s operations in 12 Latin American nations.
Impact on Users and Services
For the combined base of approximately 35 million mobile lines resulting from the merger, Millicom guarantees that the brand change will not alter existing contracts, tariffs, payment methods, or SIM cards. Users will not need to replace their SIMs or undergo any procedural steps; services will continue uninterrupted.
The operator also confirmed that the Unired network‑sharing entity — originally created to satisfy competition restrictions imposed by Colombia’s Superintendency of Industry and Commerce (SIC) — will
Source: fayerwayer.com
