Chile surpasses 10 million 5G connections: what to check before changing your phone

Chile's mobile connectivity landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, with 5G technology rapidly becoming mainstream. Recent statistics from the Undersecretariat of Telecommunications (Subtel) reveal that Chile registered over 10.36 million 5G connections by March 2026. This marks a substantial 59% increase compared to the same period the previous year, signaling a strong adoption rate for the newer technology.

The surge in 5G usage is accompanied by a decline in older network technologies. During the same period, 4G connections saw a significant drop of 22.7% year-on-year, settling at approximately 12 million. This shift indicates that users are actively migrating from 4G to 5G, reflecting a broader trend in mobile network evolution.

Furthermore, the overall mobile internet traffic in Chile has experienced a notable increase of 15.4% over the past twelve months, accumulating to 7.5 exabytes. This rise in data consumption underscores the growing reliance on mobile internet and the enhanced capabilities offered by 5G networks.

While the expansion of 5G presents opportunities for faster speeds and improved connectivity, it also raises practical questions for consumers. Subtel provides specific information on network bands to help users determine if their devices are compatible with Chilean 5G networks, suggesting that simply having '5G' in a phone's specifications does not guarantee full utilization of available services.