Cell service, 4G service upgrades announced

Ecuador’s National Telecommunications Council (Conatel) has set July 1 as the deadline for the country’s cell phone providers to make a series of service improvements. Conatel says the upgrades are based on recommendations from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

The primary change is the establishment of 12 service zones instead of the current nation-wide coverage zone. Guayaquil and Quito will have their own zones under the new plan.

Conatel has been in meetings with Ecuador’s two largest cell providers, Claro and Movistar, and says that changes are well underway. Conatel says the changes will improve coverage areas and call quality, expand call capacity and require more sophisticated equipment for large businesses.

In addition to the July 1 upgrades, Conatel says that a 4G network is being established by Claro and Movistar and should be operational nationwide by the end of the year. 4G is the latest Internet broadband technology and is required for a number of newer smart phones and tablet devices.