Hard-Knock Life Gets Harder in Venezuela With Internet Near Bust
- Data use has marked a new record every day during quarantine
- Fuel shortages, tower vandalism strain neglected network
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Venezuela’s telecommunications network was far from robust before the nation went into lockdown over the spreading coronavirus. Now, with millions video chatting and streaming while stuck at home, it’s on the brink of collapse.
Telefonica SA subsidiary Movistar, the country’s biggest operator, said the surge in data use during Venezuelans’ first week of sheltering in place was equal to the entire jump for all of 2019. This despite the fact that the country has lost millions of users in recent years, according to regulator Conatel.