The Latin American and Caribbean economy grew by 4.5% in 2005, and the region’s per capita GDP is estimated to have risen by about 3%. All Latin American countries recorded positive growth rates, ranging from 1.8% in Haiti to 9.3% in Venezuela. Economic expansion is expected to continue unabated in 2006, and ease slightly in 2007. GDP growth for Latin America and the Caribbean is projected to be 4.6% in 2006, and 4.1% in 2007. Broadband grew at an annual rate of around 75% in 2005, making Latin America one of the world’s fastest growing regions in terms of broadband uptake. However, it still accounts for only 3.9% of the world’s broadband pie, Research and Markets reports.
Latin America’s ADSL subscriber numbers continued to soar in 2005, growing by 88%, while cable modems and other broadband technologies grew at the more modest rate of 50%. The Latin American broadband leaders are Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile, and in early 2006, these four countries accounted for about 90% of all broadband subscribers in the region. In 2005, Latin America was only second to Asia in rolling out WiMAX networks. By April 2006, WiMAX systems were operating in Argentina, Brazil, the Caribbean, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.