América Móvil
América Móvil is a Mexico-based multinational telecommunications group operating mobile, fixed-line, broadband, pay-TV, and enterprise connectivity businesses across the Americas and parts of Europe.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
América Móvil is a Mexican telecommunications corporation headquartered in Mexico City and one of the largest communications groups serving Latin America. The company was created in 2000 when Telmex separated its wireless activities from its fixed-line and internet operations; shares were subsequently distributed to Telmex shareholders. From that origin, América Móvil developed into a multinational operator through organic network investment, acquisitions, integration of local businesses, and the creation of a common regional brand architecture. The group’s principal activities include mobile voice and data, fixed-line telephony, broadband internet, pay television, enterprise communications, wholesale connectivity, and related digital services. Its consumer operations are generally conducted through country-specific brands rather than under the América Móvil name itself. Telcel is the company’s principal Mexican mobile brand, while Claro is used across numerous Latin American and Caribbean markets. In Brazil, the group operates Claro alongside Embratel-related fixed and enterprise activities. Its European presence has been connected especially with Telekom Austria Group, which operates under brands including A1 in several Central and Eastern European markets. América Móvil expanded rapidly during the 2000s. It unified several Latin American wireless operations under the Claro identity, pursued assets previously associated with Verizon in the region, entered Jamaica through Oceanic Digital, and introduced major handset and mobile-service developments in Latin America. The group later broadened its fixed and converged-service footprint through transactions involving Telmex-related assets. It also pursued international opportunities beyond the Americas, including a proposed increase in its stake in Dutch operator KPN and the consolidation of Telekom Austria Group. The company has historically been closely associated with Carlos Slim and the wider Slim business network. Its scale has made it a significant participant in telecommunications policy debates, particularly in Mexico, where regulators and competition authorities have addressed market concentration, interconnection pricing, access conditions, and the position of the country’s largest operator. Regulatory reforms introduced during the 2010s sought to increase competition and impose obligations on dominant participants. América Móvil’s portfolio has changed over time. TracFone Wireless and related prepaid brands were formerly part of its United States operations but were acquired by Verizon Communications. The company also announced the purchase of Telefónica operations in Guatemala and El Salvador in 2019; the El Salvador transaction was later cancelled by mutual agreement in 2020 after competition-monitoring conditions. As of 31 December 2023, the group reported 310.1 million wireless subscribers and 73.7 million fixed revenue-generating units, comprising fixed voice, fixed data, and pay-TV connections. Its present identity is therefore that of a multi-market connectivity group whose local brands, network assets, and regulatory position vary by country.
History
América Móvil was established in late 2000 through the separation of Telmex's wireless mobile activities from its fixed-line and internet businesses. The company initially inherited a major Mexican mobile operation and then used that platform to expand across Latin America. Its shares were delivered to Telmex shareholders early in 2001, making the new company distinct from its former parent while retaining a close historical connection to Mexico's telecommunications sector. During the middle of the 2000s, América Móvil pursued international scale through acquisitions, partnerships, and brand consolidation. In 2005 it entered an international-services pact with Ooredoo. In 2006 it bid for Verizon's Latin American and Caribbean operations and began unifying several country brands, including Comcel in Colombia, Porta in Ecuador, Telcel in Mexico, TracFone in the United States, and CTI Móvil in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, under the Claro umbrella. In 2007 the company acquired Jamaican operator Oceanic Digital, which operated as MiPhone. These moves established the regional footprint that became central to the group's identity. The company broadened its technology and service portfolio as mobile communications shifted from voice toward data and smartphones. It launched the iPhone in Latin America in 2008, partnered with Nokia on location-based services in 2009, and introduced an early Android device in the region. Alongside mobile services, América Móvil developed fixed broadband, fixed voice, pay television, enterprise communications, and wholesale connectivity. This created a converged-service model in which country subsidiaries could combine wireless and fixed products according to local licenses and infrastructure. In 2010, América Móvil proposed acquiring Carso Telecom and Telmex International. Mexico's competition authority approved the transaction in February of that year. The deal strengthened the group's fixed-line and international platform and reflected the strategic importance of combining mobile and fixed assets. The company also pursued expansion in Europe. It sought to acquire the remaining shares of KPN in 2013, although the proposal encountered opposition from the Dutch government and did not result in full ownership. América Móvil subsequently consolidated Telekom Austria Group in its financial reporting after becoming its controlling shareholder, giving the group an operating base in Austria and Central and Eastern Europe. América Móvil's growth has been accompanied by sustained scrutiny in Mexico. Its large market share and the position of Telcel generated disputes over interconnection fees, competition, and access conditions. The OECD estimated that weak telecommunications competition imposed substantial costs on the Mexican economy, while Mexican authorities introduced reforms during the 2010s aimed at reducing concentration and strengthening oversight of dominant operators. These issues became a defining part of the company's regulatory environment rather than a separate consumer brand proposition. The group continued adjusting its geographic portfolio. In 2019 it announced agreements to acquire Telefónica's operations in Guatemala and El Salvador, but the El Salvador transaction was cancelled by mutual agreement in 2020 after competition-monitoring conditions. Its former U.S. wireless portfolio, including TracFone and associated prepaid brands, was acquired by Verizon. By the end of 2023, América Móvil reported 310.1 million wireless subscribers and 73.7 million fixed revenue-generating units. It remains a diversified telecommunications group whose consumer-facing identity is delivered mainly through Telcel, Claro, Embratel, A1, and other local operating brands.
- 2023
Year-end subscriber scale reported
[1]The group reports 310.1 million wireless subscribers and 73.7 million fixed revenue-generating units at year end.
- 2020
El Salvador transaction cancelled
[1]The planned acquisition of Telefónica's Salvadoran operations is cancelled by mutual agreement after competition-monitoring conditions.
- 2019
Proposed Telefónica acquisitions
[1]América Móvil announces proposed purchases of Telefónica operations in Guatemala and El Salvador.
- 2013
KPN takeover proposal
[1]The company offers to acquire the remaining stake in Dutch operator KPN, but the proposal faces Dutch government opposition.
- 2010
Telmex-related acquisition approved
[1]Mexico's competition authority approves América Móvil's acquisition proposal involving Carso Telecom and Telmex International.
- 2009
Mobile-location and Android initiatives
[1]América Móvil partners with Nokia on mapping services and launches an early Android phone in Latin America.
- 2008
iPhone introduced in Latin America
[1]The group launches iPhone services in Latin American markets.
- 2007
Entry into Jamaica
[1]América Móvil acquires Oceanic Digital in Jamaica, operated under the MiPhone brand.
- 2006
Claro brand consolidation begins
[1]The company pursues Verizon's Latin American and Caribbean assets and begins bringing multiple wireless operations under the Claro identity.
- 2005
International-services pact with Ooredoo
[1]América Móvil and Ooredoo agree to cooperate in delivering international telecommunications services.
Products and positioning
A large-scale, multi-country telecommunications operator providing mobile and fixed connectivity through strong local brands, converged services, and extensive network infrastructure.
Mobile telecommunications
Telcel
Telcel is América Móvil's principal consumer mobile brand in Mexico. It provides prepaid and postpaid voice, messaging, mobile data, handset connectivity, and related digital services. The brand is central to América Móvil's Mexican operations and is supported by the group's national wireless infrastructure. Telcel has also been the focus of competition and market-concentration scrutiny because of its historically strong position in Mexico.
Integrated telecommunications
Claro
Claro is América Móvil's principal regional consumer telecommunications brand. It operates in many Latin American and Caribbean markets and may provide mobile voice and data, fixed telephony, broadband, pay television, and enterprise or digital services depending on the country. The brand was developed by consolidating multiple local wireless identities and gives the group a more recognizable regional presence while allowing services and regulatory arrangements to remain market-specific.
Fixed, enterprise, and wholesale telecommunications
Embratel
Embratel is associated with América Móvil's Brazilian fixed-line, enterprise, wholesale, and telecommunications infrastructure activities. It complements the Claro consumer business by serving corporate, government, carrier, data-network, and long-distance requirements. Its role illustrates the group's combination of consumer wireless operations with fixed and business connectivity assets.
European telecommunications
A1 and Telekom Austria Group operations
Through Telekom Austria Group, América Móvil has operated telecommunications businesses in Austria and several Central and Eastern European markets. The portfolio includes A1-branded operations and related national subsidiaries offering mobile, fixed broadband, voice, television, and enterprise connectivity. These businesses provide the group with a European operating platform distinct from its Latin American Claro and Telcel activities.
Prepaid wireless telecommunications
TracFone
TracFone was América Móvil's principal United States wireless business and included a portfolio of prepaid and value-oriented brands such as TracFone, NET10 Wireless, Straight Talk, SafeLink Wireless, SIMPLE Mobile, Total Wireless, and Telcel América. The business was subsequently acquired by Verizon Communications and is therefore a former rather than current América Móvil offering.
Controversies
2013
Mexican antitrust and telecommunications reform
América Móvil's dominant position in Mexico was a central issue in major regulatory reforms. The measures sought to impose stronger obligations on dominant operators and create more favorable conditions for competing telecommunications providers.
2012
Market dominance and interconnection-fee criticism
América Móvil and its Mexican mobile subsidiary Telcel faced sustained criticism over market concentration and allegations that interconnection pricing could disadvantage competitors. OECD analysis and Mexican policy debates contributed to later reforms intended to improve competition.
Marketing campaigns
- 2006Claro regional brand unification
Latin America · Caribbean · United States
América Móvil brought several country-level wireless businesses under the Claro umbrella, creating a more consistent regional consumer identity while retaining local operating structures.
Outcome. Claro became the group's principal consumer telecommunications brand across numerous markets.
Brand decisions
2019
Propose acquisitions of Telefónica's Guatemala and El Salvador operationsM&ABackground
The company sought to expand its Central American telecommunications footprint.
Action taken
América Móvil announced agreements to acquire Telefónica's operations in Guatemala and El Salvador.
Aftermath
The El Salvador agreement was cancelled by mutual agreement in 2020 after competition-monitoring conditions.
2013
Attempt to acquire the remaining KPN stakeM&ABackground
América Móvil held a substantial minority position in KPN and sought greater control of the Dutch operator.
Action taken
The company offered to acquire the remaining shares in KPN.
Aftermath
The proposal encountered resistance from the Dutch government, which raised national-security concerns, and did not lead to full acquisition.
2010
Pursue Carso Telecom and Telmex InternationalM&ABackground
The company sought greater scale and a stronger combination of mobile, fixed-line, and international communications assets.
Action taken
América Móvil made an acquisition proposal involving Carso Telecom and Telmex International, which received Mexican competition-authority approval.
Aftermath
The move strengthened the group's converged and international telecommunications platform.
2008
Launch iPhone services in Latin AmericaProduct launchBackground
Smartphones were beginning to shift mobile competition toward data services and device ecosystems.
Action taken
The company introduced Apple's iPhone through its Latin American operations.
Aftermath
The launch supported the development of mobile-data and smartphone usage in the group's regional markets.
2006
Adopt the Claro umbrella across multiple marketsStrategyBackground
The group had accumulated wireless businesses operating under several local names and sought a more coherent regional identity.
Action taken
América Móvil consolidated a number of operations under the Claro brand while retaining country-specific companies and licenses.
Aftermath
Claro became the main regional consumer brand for much of the group's Latin American and Caribbean footprint.
Recent events
América Móvil announces sale of Claro Panama business[3]
América Móvil announced the sale of its Claro Panama business to Cable & Wireless Panama for $20 million. The transaction excludes the telecommunications towers and the Claro trademarks, and remains subject to regulatory approvals.
Cable & Wireless Panamá agrees to acquire Claro Panamá operations[4]
Reported:
Liberty Latin America announced that its 49%-owned subsidiary Cable & Wireless Panamá, also called Más Móvil, had agreed to acquire América Móvil's Panama operations, Claro Panamá, in an all-cash transaction valuing it at $200 million. Completion is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and was expected in the first half of 2022.
OPPO announces entry into Mexico and other Latin American markets[5]
Reported:
OPPO announced that its smartphones would enter Mexico and other Latin American markets through América Móvil operators Telcel and Claro.
OPPO and América Móvil establish strategic partnership[5]
Reported:
OPPO and América Móvil announced that they had signed a strategic cooperation agreement and established a partnership.
OPPO and América Móvil establish strategic partnership[6]
Reported:
OPPO and América Móvil announced that they had signed a strategic cooperation agreement and established a partnership. OPPO smartphones are to enter Mexico and other Latin American markets through América Móvil operators Telcel and Claro.
- Unconfirmed
América Móvil completes acquisition of Nextel Brazil[7]
Reported:
América Móvil completed its acquisition of Nextel Brazil. América Móvil said the final price for the asset was $905 million.
América Móvil completed acquisition of Nextel Brazil[8]
Reported:
NII Holdings announced completion of the sale of its Brazilian wireless operations, with América Móvil acquiring direct ownership of NIIBH and indirect ownership of Nextel Brazil.
Sources9 sources
- 1América Móvilen.wikipedia.org
- 2América Móvil official websiteamericamovil.com
- 3América Móvil 宣布出售 Claro Panama 业务leadersleague.com
- 4Cable & Wireless Panamá同意收购Claro Panamá业务lightreading.com
- 5OPPO宣布将进入墨西哥及其他拉美市场news.zol.com.cn
- 6OPPO与美洲电信建立战略合作伙伴关系tech.sina.com.cn
- 7美洲移动完成收购巴西Nextelfinance.sina.com.cn
- 8América Móvil完成对Nextel Brazil的收购prnewswire.com
- 9OPPO与美洲电信达成战略合作将进入拉美市场chinaz.com
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