Overview 

As the first country in the world to pass and institute a one laptop per child policy, Uruguay is a technology-literate country with strong connectivity. Uruguay has established itself as a regional leader in digital transformation, offering a stable, transparent, and technologically advanced environment for U.S. ICT exporters. The country ranks first in Latin America in e-Government development, ICT adoption, and telecommunications quality. 

Over 90 percent of the population has access to broadband internet, and more than 80 percent of households are connected via fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) a result of early and sustained investment in digital infrastructure. It also hosts one of the best Data Centers in Latin America and has several subsea-internet-cable connections with U.S. Strategic initiatives such as the Digital Agenda Uruguay 2025 underscore the government’s long-term commitment to enhancing digital services, expanding connectivity, and fostering inclusive economic growth through technology. Uruguay’s high levels of ICT literacy (over 98 percent), coupled with a well-educated workforce and a favorable regulatory climate, create strong demand for innovative digital solutions. These conditions position the country as a strategic entry point for U.S. companies targeting the Southern Cone and broader Latin American markets, particularly in high-potential sectors such as cloud computing, cybersecurity, health technology, and educational technology.

In June 2022, several cable operators were granted permission to offer internet services, ending the telecommunications state-owned company’s monopoly. The government also authorized Starlink and Amazon to provide satellite internet services in 2023 and 2024, respectively. In May 2023, Uruguay conducted a spectrum auction for the 3.5 GHz band for a license period of 25 years for 5G uses. The three existing telecommunication operators: state-owned ANTEL, Movistar, and Claro were awarded spectrum and are already offering 5G services. The IT services sector is a significant recent growth area, with several Uruguayan companies listed in U.S. stock markets and others acquired by U.S. companies. Multinational firms also consider Uruguay an excellent information technology hub for back office, data, and call centers. Companies such as RCI, Amazon, Microsoft, Sabre, and PWC are among the many that have set up operations in Uruguay. Uruguay is one of the largest per-capita exporters of software in Latin America, with the U.S. being its main market, purchasing 82 percent of its software exports.

ICT Export Opportunities to Uruguay:

Table: IT – Computer Hardware and Telecommunication Equipment 

Source: SP CONNECT- Global Trade
Exchange rate: (Simple average [(Value at January 1+Value at December 31)/2])
Source: BEVSA

Between 2022 and 2023, Uruguay’s total IT – Computer Hardware and Telecommunication Equipment exports grew by 5.6 percent but declined by 2.7 percent in 2024. Imports rose modestly by 1.7 percent in 2023 but fell by 4.5 percent in 2024.  Imports from the United States followed a different pattern, increasing by 6.1 percent in 2023 but dropping by 9.6 percent in 2024. Over the same period, the United States’ trade surplus with Uruguay expanded by 6.7 percent in 2023, before returning to 2022 levels in 2024. 

The United States remained Uruguay’s third-largest supplier of these products in 2024 with 7 percent of the imported, behind China and Vietnam, with 63 percent and 7.8 percent respectively. Main IT and telecommunications equipment products imported from the U.S. in 2024 were telephones sets (43.7 percent of the total) and automatic data processing machines and units (24.7 percent of the total). Since Uruguay does not manufacture computer hardware, further growth in internet usage is expected to generate greater demand for computer and other hardware imports. In 2024, state-owned ANTEL was the largest overall importer of telecommunications equipment with 22 percent of the total.
 
Uruguay’s Mobile Services subscriptions (6 million) are almost double Uruguay’s entire population with cellular handsets making up 49 percent of the total telecommunications imports. Three carriers share Uruguay’s mobile market: ANTEL with 62 percent market share, Movistar with 22 percent, and Claro with 16 percent. Experts forecast Uruguay’s mobile market to grow by almost 4.5 percent per annum through to 2028 before entering a period of modest decline as ageing 2G and 3G networks are decommissioned, reaching 6.64 million subscriptions by the end of 2034. 

Cloud Computing and Data Infrastructure

Cloud computing is a core enabler of Uruguay’s digital transformation. The public and private sectors are increasingly shifting workloads to the cloud to improve scalability, performance, and service delivery. Uruguay’s public cloud services market is projected to reach $352.8 million by 2024, with an annual growth rate of 18.5 percent through 2029, according to Statista.  Demand is particularly strong in sectors like logistics, agriculture, and public services, where digitalization is driving efficiency and competitiveness.

Uruguay is a regional leader in digital infrastructure, renewable energy, and regulatory stability, offering U.S. businesses significant opportunities to establish data and computing centers.  In 2024, Google announced an $850 million investment in a hyperscale data center in the department of Canelones – the second Google data center in Latin America. ANTEL’s Tier III data center in Pando, Uruguay offers U.S. businesses secure, high-performance cloud computing and colocation services.  In 2025, Google completed construction of its Firmina subsea cable, which linked Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to Punta del Este, Uruguay, improving low-latency data transmission between North and South America and bolstering Uruguay’s robust network of data centers.  

Further, Uruguay’s state-owned telecom provider, ANTEL, has collaborated with Google on the #Tannat cable connecting Uruguay with the U.S., Brazil, and Argentina, bolstering local internet access and cloud service capabilities. The country’s 99 percent renewable energy grid has been a key driver in attracting sustainability-focused companies that are seeking cost-effective operations for data-intensive enterprises. This positions Uruguay to host large-scale cloud and AI services and offers new prospects for U.S. firms providing data center equipment, cloud security tools, and consulting services.

As a general principle, personal data must remain within the country unless transferred to appropriate territories and organizations, or the consent of individuals is obtained, or one of the exceptions provided for in Uruguayan law is met. These exceptions include codes of conduct and contractual clauses, which require a prior review by the Uruguayan Data Protection Authority (URCDP), international agreements, anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) prevention, among others. Transfers of personal data to U.S. companies that are covered by the E.U.-U.S.  Privacy Framework and have issued a declaration extending the safeguards to data received from Uruguay do not require prior authorization according to relevant URCDP resolutions.  

Regulations govern the central government’s computer system security, requiring all systems that pose a risk to the organization to remain in Uruguay, with exceptions. Uruguay’s Agency for e-government, information, and knowledge society (AGESIC) oversees enforcing this regulation. Nevertheless, AGESIC has issued guidance to promote the use of cloud services in central government if regulatory requirements are met.

Cybersecurity

As digital adoption accelerates, Uruguay has placed cybersecurity at the center of its national digital agenda. Public institutions and private enterprises alike face a growing need for secure infrastructure, incident response capabilities, and cyber risk mitigation.  The Uruguayan cybersecurity market is expected to reach $114.8 million by 2025, with managed services, cloud-based security platforms, and endpoint protection as top growth segments, according to Statista. U.S. firms specializing in network protection, threat intelligence, identity management, next-generation firewalls, and zero-trust security architecture could find demand across multiple sectors.  Furthermore, Uruguay’s efforts to improve cyber literacy and develop local expertise offer additional opportunities for U.S. firms providing cybersecurity training, risk assessments, and strategic advisory services. 

The government’s openness to international best practices and partnerships makes this a particularly promising area for long-term engagement. On August 14, 2024, Uruguay passed its first comprehensive cybercrime law, which defines penalties for offenses like online harassment, data breaches, identity theft, and unauthorized access to computer systems. In December 2024, the government published its National Cybersecurity Strategy 2024-2030 which is inspired by U.S. NIST’s Cybersecurity Framework. This new Strategy establishes actions for strong and collaborative governance, a robust regulatory framework, the ability to combat cybercrime, and the protection of critical information infrastructure. It also promotes a cybersecurity culture that enables people to use technology safely and responsibly, addressing the challenges and risks associated with cyberthreats. 

Digital Health Services

See Digital Health under Healthcare Opportunities. 

Educational Technology (EdTech)

Uruguay has long been a digital education leader in the region, with its nationally funded Plan Ceibal providing laptops and internet access to all public-school students since 2007. As the program enters its next phase, the focus has shifted toward enhanced digital learning tools and personalized education strategies. This evolution presents new opportunities for U.S. EdTech firms offering online learning platforms, AI-powered instructional tools, STEM content, and teacher training resources in Spanish.