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- The operator has successfully completed the construction of four mandatory localities in the Arica and Parinacota Region. The antennas are located in extreme areas of the region and in zones of high geographic and territorial complexity.
- In the words of Chris Bannister, CEO of the company, “This milestone reaffirms our purpose of connecting everyone in Chile, significantly narrowing the digital divide.”
January 13, 2026.- WOM remains firmly committed to the rollout of the 5G Project, announcing a significant milestone recently achieved by submitting all Mandatory Localities for acceptance and authorization by the Undersecretariat of Telecommunications (Subtel). In the case of Arica, the operator completed the construction of digital infrastructure in the four localities awarded in the region, namely: Caleta Vitor in the municipality of Arica; Caquena in the municipality of Putre; Cobija in the municipality of Camarones; and Teleschuño in the municipality of General Lagos.
“This milestone reaffirms our purpose of connecting everyone in Chile, significantly narrowing the digital divide. Our team managed to reach extreme areas of the region, located in zones of high complexity, both geographically and territorially. We will continue to be the operator that brings connectivity to the most extreme and remote areas of the country, transforming the lives of millions of people,” said Chris Bannister, CEO of WOM.
The construction of digital infrastructure in these localities—where network coverage was nonexistent or extremely limited—has generated a significant social impact for their inhabitants through access to connectivity. Likewise, this deployment contributes substantially to the economic and social development of the region, driving productivity, local entrepreneurship, educational advancement for both students and teachers, and improvements in healthcare.
“Our deployment is part of a sustained effort throughout our first decade in Chile, which has allowed us, in just ten years, to become the country’s second-largest network with more than 6,300 proprietary antennas that today provide connectivity in urban, rural, and extreme areas,” added Chris Bannister, CEO of WOM.
It is worth noting that on December 31, 2025, WOM submitted to the Undersecretariat of Telecommunications (Subtel) all 366 Mandatory Localities committed under the 5G Project, of which nearly 80% have already been authorized.
The company explained that the remaining percentage pending acceptance and approval continues to progress in accordance with the authority’s regular review processes, in line with the terms established in the bidding rules and the settlement agreement signed with the Council for the Defense of the State (CDE). Likewise, the operator stated that the deadline for all localities to be fully authorized and operational is March 2026, a milestone that is being met as established.
WOM reiterated its commitment to completing the authorization process for the works, with the goal of ensuring that its network brings connectivity to remote and extreme areas of the country, contributing to access to telecommunications services throughout the national territory.
What is a “Mandatory Locality”?
A Mandatory Locality is a specific area of the country defined by the State as a priority for receiving mobile connectivity, and whose coverage is a legal obligation for companies that are awarded a telecommunications tender.
These areas are not chosen by operators; rather, they are zones through which the Chilean State ensures that access to connectivity is not concentrated solely in large cities, but also reaches rural, isolated, or underserved communities.
These localities are part of the social commitment of the 5G Project, as they seek to reduce the digital divide and ensure that connectivity reaches people who today need it for education, healthcare, security, and economic development.
| Mandatory Localities | City |
| Caleta Vitor | Arica |
| Caquena | Putre |
| Cobija | Camarones |
| Teleschuño | General Lagos |
Connected Schools: Education with Purpose
As part of its ongoing commitment to reducing the digital divide, the company launched the “Connected Schools” program in 2023, an initiative designed to provide free internet access to educational institutions. To date, the operator has connected 211 schools, mainly located in rural areas, benefiting more than 52,000 students and over 4,000 teachers nationwide.
In addition, WOM has taken connectivity a step further by providing tools for teachers to build digital skills. Through the “Digital Skills” program, more than 600 teachers and education students have been trained and certified on platforms in partnership with NivelA, including Google Classroom, spreadsheets, documents, presentations, forms, and Google Gemini.
National Fiber Optic Network (FON)
In addition to the deployment of Mandatory Localities, the company highlighted the completion of 100% of its National Fiber Optic Network (FON) project, totaling 7,553 kilometers of fiber. This service already benefits 161 municipalities across the regions from Arica and Parinacota to Biobío and impacts more than 2.5 million people. This flagship project represents the largest connectivity network in the country, enabling rural and remote areas of Chile to access the internet.
Both milestones confirm that WOM invests, builds, and contributes to Chile’s economic and social development by bringing connectivity to places where service previously did not exist.
