WOM - Chile

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WOM
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Chile Flag of Chile View country details


WOM (Chile) uses 4 UMTS bands, 3 LTE bands, and 3 5G NR bands. Find out if your unlocked phone or mobile device will work with WOM (Chile). See the tables below for details.

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Carrier website: http://www.wom.cl/

Last updated: 2024/08/04 - See latest updates

WOM Chile is a mobile telephony and broadband company that has been a significant player in the Chilean market. Here are some key points about the company:

  1. Market Presence and Competition:

    • WOM Chile is one of the major mobile operators in Chile, competing with Telefonica (Movistar) and Entel.
    • It has a market share of 21% and serves over eight million customers.

  2. Financial Issues:

    • In April 2024, WOM Chile filed for bankruptcy due to its inability to refinance a US$348 million debt pile and challenges in the macroeconomic environment.
    • The company had total liabilities of US$1.8 billion at the end of 2023 and received US$200 million in debtor-in-possession financing from JPMorgan Chase & Co.

  3. Data Security Concerns:

    • In May 2024, WOM Chile faced a significant data breach where over a million customer contracts were exposed due to unsecured cloud storage on Amazon Web Services (AWS).
    • The leaked data included sensitive information such as full names, phone numbers, home addresses, email addresses, and RUT (Rol Único Tributario) numbers, which are similar to Social Security numbers in the US.

  4. Network Coverage and Performance:

    • WOM Chile is one of the four major networks operating in Chile, with detailed coverage maps available through the Opensignal app.
    • The company’s network performance is a subject of ongoing analysis, particularly in the context of its bankruptcy and potential subscriber migration.

  5. Impact on the Market:

    • WOM’s bankruptcy filing has significant implications for both the Chilean and Colombian mobile markets, with potential subscriber migration posing challenges for other operators.
    • Chilean operators are generally more resilient to such a migration due to better-established 5G networks and lower rates of congestion compared to Colombian operators.

Overall, WOM Chile has been a major player in the Chilean mobile market, but its financial struggles and data security issues have raised significant concerns about its future operations and impact on the broader market.

Frequency Bands

UMTS

Name Interface Description
B4 (1700/2100 MHz AWS 1) UMTS

WOM Chile uses the UMTS band B4 (1700/2100 MHz AWS 1) for its wireless network. This frequency band is utilized for both uplink and downlink operations. The deployment of this band is not specified in the provided information.
B2 (1900 MHz PCS) UMTS

WOM Chile uses the UMTS B2 (1900 MHz PCS) frequency band for its mobile network. This band is utilized for both UMTS and LTE services, providing coverage and capacity for mobile broadband in the country. The deployment of this frequency band by WOM Chile supports the widespread adoption of mobile technology and the high penetration rate of mobile subscriptions in Chile.
B5 (850 MHz) UMTS

WOM Chile uses the UMTS band B5 (850 MHz).
B8 (900 MHz GSM) UMTS

WOM Chile uses the UMTS frequency band B8 (900 MHz GSM).

LTE

Name Interface Description
B4 (1700/2100 MHz AWS 1) LTE

WOM Chile uses the LTE B4 (1700/2100 MHz AWS 1) frequency band for its LTE network. This band is commonly used in the United States and is supported by several major carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. It is known for providing a good balance between capacity, density, and penetration/range, making it a popular choice for LTE deployments.
B28 (700 MHz APT) LTE

WOM Chile uses LTE Band 28 (700 MHz APT) for its LTE network. This band operates between 703 MHz and 803 MHz, supporting channel bandwidths of 5, 10, 15, and 20 MHz. The band is used for both uplink (703–748 MHz) and downlink (758–803 MHz) transmissions. WOM's use of this band is part of its LTE network deployment, which aims to provide good coverage and throughput, especially in rural areas where high-band spectrum is less effective due to its short range and higher cost of deployment.
B66 (1700/2100 MHz) LTE

WOM Chile uses the LTE frequency band B66 (1700/2100 MHz). This band is utilized for both LTE and 5G NR services. The deployment of this band is part of the broader transition to 5G networks in Chile, which began in late December 2021.

5G NR

Name Interface Description
N28 (700 MHz) 5G NR

WOM Chile uses the 5G NR frequency band n28 (700 MHz) for its 5G network. This frequency band covers the range of 703 to 803 MHz. The deployment of WOM's 5G network using this band was completed as part of Chile's first 5G spectrum auction in Latin America.
N66 (1700/2100 MHz) 5G NR

WOM Chile uses the 5G NR frequency band n66 (1700/2100 MHz). This band operates in the frequency range of 1710 - 1780 MHz for the uplink and 2110 - 2200 MHz for the downlink, with a total bandwidth of 90 MHz. The band uses Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) technology. The deployment details for this specific band are not provided in the available information.
N78 (3500 MHz) 5G NR

WOM Chile uses the 5G NR frequency band n78, which operates in the 3500 MHz range, commonly referred to as the 3.5 GHz band or C-band. This band is designated for Time Division Duplexing (TDD) and is widely used for 5G deployments due to its relatively common availability and potential for high capacity throughput. The n78 band spans from 3300 MHz to 3800 MHz, supporting channel bandwidths ranging from 10 MHz to 100 MHz. Advanced technologies like massive MIMO, beam-forming, and beam-tracking help mitigate the limited range and building penetration issues associated with higher frequencies. This band is particularly popular for its ability to support large channel widths, making it suitable for delivering high-capacity 5G services.

WOM Chile launched its 5G services in the Valparaíso, Biobío, and Santiago metropolitan regions. The company plans to reach 50% deployment of the network by the end of the first half of 2023 and complete the process by the second half of 2023, with a total of 2,151 sites. WOM aims to invest US$500mn to strengthen its network and triple its coverage by 177% this year. The company projects that it will reach 50% of 5G clients in the first four years of service.

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