Catel

What Catel does

CATEL (Cámara de Cooperativas de Telecomunicaciones) is a non-profit civil association founded in 2008 that federates telecommunications cooperatives across Argentina. It operates imowi, a hybrid mobile network operator launched in January 2022 as the country's fourth national mobile operator, alongside Claro, Personal, and Movistar. imowi functions as a full MVNO with its own core network, subscriber management, billing, and SIM/eSIM systems, built on JSC Ingenium's platform, while using Telefónica/Movistar's access network under a wholesale agreement reached in November 2017. Since February 2024, imowi has begun deploying its own radio bases in areas without mobile coverage, transitioning from a pure MVNO into a Hybrid Mobile Network Operator (HMNO).

The company's core product is a mobile service offering distributed exclusively through its network of 50+ associated cooperatives, which bundle imowi with their existing fixed telephony, internet, and TV services to deliver quadruple-play packages to end subscribers. The pricing model is subscription-based, with a base plan at ARS 705/month including 3GB data, unlimited calls, SMS, and WhatsApp, plus self-service data add-ons via the imowi app and web portal. CATEL's go-to-market is a B2B2C channel-partner model: cooperatives acquire and serve subscribers locally, while CATEL provides the centralized platform, regulatory license, and network infrastructure. CATEL has been recognized with the 2022 World Communication Awards (2nd place, Social Contribution) and the 2022 and 2025 Conecta Latam awards for digital transformation and innovation.

Beyond mobile, CATEL runs the Cátedra Libre 'La conectividad como servicio esencial y garantía de derechos' with the National University of La Plata, providing technical training and research on connectivity for underserved communities. The organization is governed by its member cooperatives under Argentine associative law, with regulatory support from ENACOM (which grants its MVNO license and numbering) and infrastructure partnerships with ARSAT (fiber backbone), COLSECOR, and FEDECOBA. No external equity, VC, or PE ownership is in place; CATEL is member-owned and reinvests into the cooperative platform.

Name

Catel

Legal name

Cámara de Cooperativas de Telecomunicaciones

Website

https://catel.org.ar

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

CATEL is a non-profit Argentine chamber of telecommunications cooperatives that operates imowi, the country's fourth national mobile operator, distributing mobile services as a hybrid MVNO through 50+ member cooperatives and targeting underserved communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Baku

HQ country

Azerbaijan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Mobile Voice Services: Mobile phone service including calls and SMS, offered as part of bundled packages through cooperative members.
2. Mobile Data Services: Mobile internet access with data packages and bonuses, the core driver of new revenue as 4G/LTE services expand.
3. Quadruple Play Bundles: Converged service packages combining fixed telephony, internet, TV, and mobile services offered by cooperatives to their subscribers.
4. Roaming and Offloading Services: Revenue generated from network sharing arrangements with Movistar and transparent WiFi-to-cellular offloading for subscribers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CATEL (Cámara de Cooperativas de Telecomunicaciones) is a non-profit chamber of Argentine telecommunications cooperatives that operates imowi, a full Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) and now hybrid mobile network operator. Through its own core network, numbering, billing systems, and SIM cards, and leveraging Movistar's access network, CATEL delivers mobile voice, SMS, and 4G data services to end subscribers via its 50+ member cooperatives across 32+ localities in Argentina. It also deploys proprietary radio bases in unserved areas and offers quadruple-play bundles (telephony, internet, TV, mobile).

Product overview

CATEL's portfolio centers on imowi, its flagship hybrid mobile network operator (full MVNO) product launched in January 2022. imowi enables CATEL's member cooperatives to offer mobile services (voice, SMS, data, eSIM) to their existing subscriber bases, completing a quadruple-play offering. The second key offering is the Cátedra Libre, an academic program developed with the National University of La Plata (UNLP) to provide technical advice and training on connectivity projects for underserved communities. CATEL itself functions as a chamber and enabling platform for telecommunications cooperatives rather than a traditional software product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• imowi: Hybrid Mobile Network Operator brand offering mobile services including voice, data, SMS, and WhatsApp. Operates as a full MVNO with proprietary core network, providing services through CATEL member cooperatives across Argentina.

Products and services

• imowi Mobile Service Hybrid Mobile Network Operator (full MVNO) service providing mobile voice, SMS, 4G data, WhatsApp, and eSIM to end consumers through CATEL's own core network combined with Movistar's national access network; prepaid and postpaid plans with add-on data bonuses.
• imowi Quadruple-Play Bundles Converged service bundles combining fixed telephony, internet, TV, and imowi mobile offered by CATEL member cooperatives to their subscribers to enable a complete communications package from a single local provider.
• imowi Mobile Voice and SMS Service Mobile voice calling and SMS service included in imowi subscription plans, offered to consumers through CATEL member cooperatives as part of the base plan and add-on packages.
• imowi Mobile Data Service (4G/LTE) Mobile 4G/LTE internet access provided via imowi, including a base data allowance (3GB) plus WhatsApp access and additional data bonuses of various capacities and durations purchased through self-service channels.
• Centralized Mobile Operations Platform for Cooperatives Centralized, flexible, and personalized mobile operations platform (built with JSC Ingenium) that allows new cooperatives to join the imowi mobile project regardless of their technical capabilities, with multiple operational modalities and business schemes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 32 localities served with mobile services as of January 2022 launch
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• JSC IngeniumcoreTechnology or Integration · 24 August 2018Technology partnership with Spanish company JSC Ingenium, specialized in Mobile Core Network technologies for MNOs and MVNOs. Selected as the technology partner to provide CATEL's centralized mobile operation platform. The partnership was formalized at a kick-off meeting with over 50 attendees from 19 cooperatives.
• Telefónica/Movistar ArgentinacoreTechnology or Integration · 7 November 2017Strategic partnership agreement signed in November 2017 allowing CATEL and its member cooperatives to use Movistar's mobile network infrastructure and access network (cell sites) nationwide. This enables imowi to operate as a full MVNO while leveraging existing cellular coverage. The agreement was described as fundamental to CATEL's ability to launch mobile services.
• ENACOM (Ente Nacional de Comunicaciones)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory partnership with Argentina's national communications authority. ENACOM granted CATEL its MVNO license (Resolution 5,193/2017), assigned mobile numbering (Resolution 3,054/2019), and provides funding through non-reimbursable contributions (ANRs) for connectivity projects. ENACOM views CATEL as a key partner in expanding telecommunications access.
• UNLP (Universidad Nacional de La Plata)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership established in October 2020 through a cooperation agreement. UNLP provides technical and professional advice for connectivity projects, particularly the Program for Connectivity in Popular Neighborhoods. The collaboration includes the Cátedra Libre 'La conectividad como servicio esencial y garantía de derechos' (Free Chair on Connectivity as an Essential Service and Guarantee of Rights).
• COLSECOR (Cooperativa de Provisión y Comercialización de Servicios Comunitarios de Radiodifusión)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOLSECOR represents over 250 cooperatives nationwide and is an integral founding partner in the imowi mobile project. COLSECOR brings its network of cooperatives and technical expertise to the initiative, serving as a major channel for expanding imowi's reach across Argentina.
• FEDECOBA (Federación de Cooperativas de Electricidad y Servicios Públicos de la Provincia de Buenos Aires)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuenos Aires province federation of electric and public service cooperatives. Partner in joint connectivity projects including the Popular Neighborhoods Connectivity Program, representing hundreds of cooperatives in the province.
• ARSATmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArgentina's state-owned satellite and telecommunications company. Strategic partner in connectivity initiatives, with its fiber optic network (REFEFO) serving as backbone infrastructure for serving interior regions of the country.
• 5G AmericasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry organization for mobile technology advancement. CATEL and 5G Americas agreed on cooperation actions to promote TIC development in Argentina, including knowledge sharing and participation in industry events.
• Andina LinkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry event organizer for Latin American telecommunications. CATEL subscribed an institutional alliance with Andina Link for participation in regional industry events and knowledge sharing.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/catelargentina

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Catel