COTESMA
COTESMA is a member-owned Argentine telecommunications cooperative founded in 1961 that delivers FTTH internet, fixed-line telephony, and IPTV (Cotesma Play) to residential customers and associates across San Martín de los Andes, Junín de los Andes, Zapala, and surrounding Patagonian localities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1961
- HeadquartersSan Martin De Los Andes, Argentina
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What COTESMA does
COTESMA (Cooperativa Telefónica y Otros Servicios Públicos y Turísticos de San Martín de los Andes Limitada) is a member-owned telecommunications cooperative founded on August 15, 1961 in San Martín de los Andes, Neuquén Province, Argentina. It was created after the state-owned ENTEL declined to invest in the small Patagonian town of 4,500 inhabitants, and has since expanded to serve San Martín de los Andes, Junín de los Andes, Zapala, Villa Pehuenia, Villa Lago Meliquina, and surrounding localities. The cooperative is governed under Argentine Law No. 20337 with a 9-member Board of Directors elected by the General Assembly on a one-member-one-vote basis.
Its core business centers on three subscription-based services delivered over a proprietary fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network: high-speed fiber optic internet, fixed-line telephony (more than 11,000 installed lines covering over 80% of households in its primary service area), and Cotesma Play — an Android TV-based IPTV service offering 100+ HD channels with multi-device viewing on up to 5 simultaneous devices. Infrastructure milestones include Argentina's first subaquatic fiber optic deployment (2021, to Villa Meliquina), the Strategic Fiber Optic Deployment Plan rolling out across three cities, and ongoing replacement of legacy copper plant. The cooperative also operates a portfolio of community-facing assets: Centro Cultural Cotesma (cultural center since 1991), the 38-hectare Reserva Natural Urbana managed in partnership with Conservación Patagónica, the 7.5-hectare Predio Deportivo managed by Club Embajador de los Andes under a 10-year agreement, and the BIT (Base de Innovación Tecnológica) launched in 2023 for digital skills training and entrepreneurship. Distribution is via direct-to-consumer channels including customer service centers, WhatsApp, mobile applications (iOS and Android), the virtual office platform, and a network of Argentine payment partners (Mercado Pago, Pago Fácil, Rapipago, and major banks).
COTESMA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- COTESMA
- Legal name
- Cooperativa Telefónica y Otros Servicios Públicos y Turísticos de San Martín de los Andes Limitada
- Website
- https://cotesma.coop
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1961
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- COTESMA is a member-owned Argentine telecommunications cooperative founded in 1961 that delivers FTTH internet, fixed-line telephony, and IPTV (Cotesma Play) to residential customers and associates across San Martín de los Andes, Junín de los Andes, Zapala, and surrounding Patagonian localities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
COTESMA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Telecommunications Services
- NAICS
- Wired Telecommunications Carriers (517111)
- SIC
- Services-Telephone Interconnect Systems (7385)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Rural & Universal Service Fixed Broadband Providers (HDAIABAJ)
Keywords
Where COTESMA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Martin De Los Andes
- HQ country
- Argentina
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices4 records
Markets served
COTESMA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Internet Services (Fibra Óptica / FTTH): Subscription-based high-speed fiber optic internet service provided to residential and business customers in San Martín de los Andes, Junín de los Andes, Zapala, and surrounding localities. Customers pay recurring monthly fees based on selected plans/packages.
- Basic Telephone Service (Telefonía Básica): Fixed-line telephone service with more than 11,000 installed lines serving San Martín de los Andes and surrounding areas including Villa Quila Quina, Estancia Miralejos, Chapelco Golf, and Las Pendientes. Revenue generated through monthly subscription fees.
- Cotesma Play (TV over Internet / IPTV): IPTV subscription service delivered via fiber optic with Android TV experience, offering 100+ HD channels plus premium add-on packages (Fútbol, Fox Premium). Generates recurring subscription revenue bundled with internet or as standalone service.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Weekly | Edge City Patagonia event residency - weekly rate |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Edge City Patagonia event residency - full month rate |
| Subscription | Monthly | Internet plans by locality (San Martín de los Andes, Junín de los Andes, Zapala, Villa Pehuenia, Villa Lago Meliquina) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels5 records
COTESMA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
COTESMA is a telecommunications cooperative providing fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband internet, fixed-line telephone service, and IPTV (Cotesma Play) subscriptions to residential customers and cooperative members in San Martín de los Andes, Junín de los Andes, Zapala, and surrounding Patagonian localities in Argentina. It complements telecom services with digital self-service tools (Oficina Virtual, mobile app), WiFi Mesh, and community programs including a cultural center, urban nature reserve, sports facility, and the BIT technology innovation hub.
Product overview
COTESMA is a telecommunications cooperative offering a diversified portfolio of services organized into three main categories: Technological Services (Servicios Tecnológicos), Cooperative Services (Servicios Cooperativos), and Innovation (BIT). The core technological portfolio includes Internet por Fibra Óptica (high-speed fiber-to-the-home broadband), Telefonía Básica (fixed-line telephone service established in 1961), and Cotesma Play (IPTV television service over fiber optic with Android TV platform). These are complemented by digital service layers including the Oficina Virtual (customer self-service portal), WiFi Mesh (whole-home wireless coverage), and Identificación del Personal (field technician identification system). COTESMA also operates complementary non-tech services including Centro Cultural Cotesma (cultural center), Reserva Natural Urbana (urban nature reserve), and Predio Deportivo (sports facility). The recently launched BIT (Base de Innovación Tecnológica) represents the cooperative's push into technology education and digital entrepreneurship. The company serves San Martín de los Andes, Junín de los Andes, Zapala, and surrounding areas in Neuquén Province, Argentina.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Cotesma Play: TV over internet service via fiber optic powered by an Android TV experience, offering over 100 HD channels and access to streaming applications.
- BIT Cotesma (Base de Innovación Tecnológica)
- Centro Cultural Cotesma
- Reserva Natural Urbana Cotesma
- Predio Deportivo Cotesma
Products and services
- Internet por Fibra Óptica (FTTH) High-speed broadband internet service delivered via fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) technology, available in San Martín de los Andes, Junín de los Andes, Zapala, and surrounding areas. Sold as monthly subscription plans per locality.
- Telefonía Básica Fixed-line telephone service established as the cooperative's founding offering, now with more than 11,000 installed lines serving San Martín de los Andes and surrounding areas (Villa Quila Quina, Estancia Miralejos, Chapelco Golf, Las Pendientes). Sold as monthly subscription plans.
- Cotesma Play (IPTV) IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) service delivered over fiber optic with Android TV experience, offering 100+ HD channels and access to streaming applications. Viewable on up to 5 simultaneous devices with the Multi-Device Platform supporting pause, restart, and 24-hour replay. Available with premium add-on packages such as Fútbol and Fox Premium.
- Oficina Virtual
Quantifiable outcome
- 80%+ of households in service area have telephone service
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use COTESMA
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
COTESMA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration13 records
Feature4 records
COTESMA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Edge City (popup village community)minorEdge City hosted its second 2025 popup village at BIT Cotesma in San Martín de los Andes from October 18 to November 15, 2025, attracting 600+ attendees from 72 countries. COTESMA provided the venue (coworking at BIT Cotesma), wellness programming, and community infrastructure for the month-long residency focused on frontier tech and human flourishing.
- Club Embajador de los AndescoreCOTESMA and Club Embajador de los Andes signed a 10-year collaboration agreement on November 24, 2020, granting the Club management of the Predio Deportivo Cotesma (7.5-hectare sports facility) for nonprofit sports, social, and community activities. COTESMA provides the facility and discounts on membership and activities to its associates.
- Conservación Patagónica (Patagonia Conservation NGO)coreAn agreement was made in 2013 for Conservation Patagonia to manage the Reserva Natural Urbana COTESMA (38-hectare urban nature reserve on the 'Tierras de la Vega'). The NGO serves as the main entity promoting and managing the reserve.
- Mercado PagominorMercado Pago is accepted as a payment method at COTESMA, allowing customers to pay using debit card or funds in their Mercado Pago account for service bills.
- Pago Fácil and RapipagominorPago Fácil and Rapipago are authorized collection points where COTESMA customers can pay their bills in person.
- Banco Francés, Banco Patagonia, BPN, Banco Macro, Banco NaciónminorCOTESMA accepts bill payments through home banking (Pago Mis Cuentas, Link Pagos) and automatic debit from accounts at Banco Francés, Banco Patagonia, BPN, Banco Macro, and Banco Nación, facilitating customer payment flexibility.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
COTESMA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- TDS Telecom: US rural-focused telecom operator providing fiber, broadband, and IPTV services to small-town and rural markets. Comparable business model of serving remote, low-density geographies with FTTH investment.
- Claro Argentina (América Móvil): Argentina's third major telecom carrier providing fixed broadband, mobile, and Pay TV services across the country. Comparable in offering fixed internet and IPTV in overlapping Argentine geographies.
- Telefónica Argentina (Movistar): Major incumbent telecom operator in Argentina offering fixed broadband, mobile, and IPTV services. Comparable in core connectivity offering and is a competitor or partner depending on geography.
- Telecom Argentina (Personal / Flow): Argentina's largest telecom carrier offering fixed-line, mobile, broadband, and Pay TV (Flow) nationwide. Competes with COTESMA in the broader Argentine ISP market and represents the primary threat to its regional monopoly.
Direct peers
- Sonic: Independent US ISP offering fiber-to-the-home broadband with IPTV bundling, focused on regional California markets. Comparable in deploying FTTH as an independent operator with bundled entertainment services.
- Cooperativa Telefónica de Río Tercero: Argentine telecom cooperative providing telephony, internet, and cable TV services in Córdoba Province. Comparable cooperative operating model, multi-service portfolio, and regional Argentine market positioning.
- Cooperativa de Servicios Públicos de Santa Rosa: Multi-service cooperative offering electricity, telephony, internet, and IPTV in La Pampa. Comparable in cooperative structure and bundled telecom service delivery to a small Argentine city.
- Cooperativa Telefónica de Tandil: Argentine telecommunications cooperative operating in Tandil, Buenos Aires Province, providing telephony, internet, and IPTV services. Closest comparable as a similarly-sized cooperative ISP serving a small-to-mid Argentine city with fiber and telephony bundles.
- Vexus Fiber: Regional fiber-to-the-home provider operating in underserved markets across the US Southwest and Texas. Comparable in deploying FTTH infrastructure to smaller communities and bundling broadband with TV and voice.
Emerging players
- Starlink (SpaceX): LEO satellite broadband provider from SpaceX actively expanding in Argentina, particularly in remote and underserved areas like Patagonia. Direct competitor for last-mile residential broadband where fiber deployment is uneconomic.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
COTESMA social profiles
Digital presenceCOTESMA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
COTESMA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
COTESMA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
COTESMA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about COTESMA
What does COTESMA do?
COTESMA is a telecommunications cooperative providing fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband internet, fixed-line telephone service, and IPTV (Cotesma Play) subscriptions to residential customers and cooperative members in San Martín de los Andes, Junín de los Andes, Zapala, and surrounding Patagonian localities in Argentina. It complements telecom services with digital self-service tools (Oficina Virtual, mobile app), WiFi Mesh, and community programs including a cultural center, urban nature reserve, sports facility, and the BIT technology innovation hub.
Is COTESMA a public or private company?
COTESMA is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was COTESMA founded?
COTESMA was founded in 1961. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is COTESMA based?
COTESMA is headquartered in San Martin De Los Andes, Argentina, in the Latin America region.
How does COTESMA make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Internet Services (Fibra Óptica / FTTH) is the primary driver. The others are basic Telephone Service (Telefonía Básica) and cotesma Play (TV over Internet / IPTV).
Who are COTESMA's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are TDS Telecom, Claro Argentina (América Móvil), Telefónica Argentina (Movistar) and Telecom Argentina (Personal / Flow). Direct peers are Sonic, Cooperativa Telefónica de Río Tercero, Cooperativa de Servicios Públicos de Santa Rosa, Cooperativa Telefónica de Tandil and Vexus Fiber. Starlink (SpaceX) is listed as an emerging player.
Does COTESMA have an API?
No public API is recorded for COTESMA.
What industry is COTESMA in?
COTESMA's product category is Telecommunications Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAIABAJ, Rural & Universal Service Fixed Broadband Providers. Its NAICS code is 517111 and its SIC code is 7385.