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- The operator has completed the construction of the 22 Mandatory Localities corresponding to the Coquimbo Region. Notably, these antennas are located in extreme areas of the region and in zones of high geographical and territorial complexity.
- In the words of Chris Bannister, CEO of the company, “This milestone reaffirms our purpose of connecting all people in Chile, significantly narrowing the digital divide.”
Coquimbo, January 13, 2026.– WOM remains firmly committed to the rollout of the 5G Project, announcing an important milestone recently achieved by submitting all Mandatory Localities for acceptance and authorization by the Undersecretariat of Telecommunications (Subtel). In the case of Coquimbo, the operator completed the construction of digital infrastructure in the 22 localities awarded in this region, including San Marcos in the municipality of Combarbalá; Villa Puclaro in the municipality of Vicuña; Tamelcura in the municipality of Monte Patria; and Las Cardas in the municipality of Coquimbo.
“This milestone reaffirms our purpose of connecting all people in Chile, significantly narrowing the digital divide. Our team managed to reach extreme areas of the region, located in zones of high geographical and territorial complexity. We will continue to be the operator that brings connectivity to the most remote and isolated 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 residents through access to connectivity. Likewise, the deployment contributes substantially to the economic and social development of the region, driving productivity, local entrepreneurship, educational progress for both students and teachers, and improvements in healthcare access.
“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 owned antennas that now provide connectivity in urban, rural, and extreme areas,” added Chris Bannister.
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 explains that the remaining percentage pending acceptance and approval continues to progress in accordance with the authority’s regular review processes, in line with the bidding terms and the agreement signed with the State Defense Council (CDE). The operator also notes that the deadline for all localities to be 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 its network delivers 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, whose coverage is a legal obligation for companies awarded a telecommunications license.
These areas are not chosen by operators; rather, they are designated by the Chilean State to ensure that access to connectivity is not concentrated solely in large cities, but also reaches rural, isolated, or underserved localities.
These localities are part of the social commitment of the 5G Project, as they aim to reduce the digital divide and ensure connectivity reaches people who need it today for education, health, security, and economic development.
| Mandatory Locality | City |
|---|---|
| Santa Eliza | La Serena |
| San Marcos | Combarbalá |
| La Cachina | La Serena |
| Las Cardas | Coquimbo |
| La Calera – Vicuña | Vicuña |
| Villa Puclaro | Vicuña |
| Cajón del Romero | La Serena |
| Los Corrales | La Serena |
| Cañas Dos | Illapel |
| La Estrella | La Serena |
| Quebrada de Cárcamo Sur | Illapel |
| Comunidad Agrícola El Manzano – El Manzano | Andacollo |
| Peladeros | Salamanca |
| San Pedro de Quiles | Punitaqui |
| Potrerillos Alto | Ovalle |
| El Romeral | Río Hurtado |
| Tamelcura | Monte Patria |
| Cerro Blanco | Los Vilos |
| Caleta Puerto Manso | Canela |
| Caleta Puerto Manso | Paiguano |
| La Tórtola | La Higuera |
| Romeral | La Serena |
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 in rural areas, benefiting more than 52,000 students and over 4,000 teachers nationwide.
Connectivity has also been taken a step further by providing tools for teachers to strengthen their digital skills. Through the Digital Skills program, more than 600 teachers and student teachers 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 highlights the completion of 100% of its National Fiber Optic Network (FON) project, totaling 7,553 kilometers of fiber. This service now benefits 161 municipalities across the regions of Arica and Parinacota and Biobío, impacting 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.
Together, these 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.
