Peru blocks over 4 million mobile phones and expands 4G to 400+ rural towns

Peru’s telecom regulator, Osiptel, has blocked more than four million mobile phones since April 2025 as part of a crackdown on the black‑market trade in stolen devices and phone‑based extortion. The latest action in July added 120,000 devices, with plans to block another 360,000 by the end of the month. Authorities say 87 % of extortion cases use anonymous phone calls, prompting the reinforced verification and online‑tool measures tied to the national equipment registry (Renteseg).

Separately, the Ministry of Transport and Communications announced a partnership with the four major operators—Bitel, Claro, Entel and Integratel—to bring 4G voice and data services to 412 rural localities, covering about 66,000 people. The initiative, funded by more than S/182 million and using a coverage‑fee mechanism, aims to improve education, health, e‑commerce and financial inclusion, with rollout expected by June 2027.