Telmex to Launch Fixed Wireless Services in 4Q06

The Peruvian unit of Mexican telephony giant Telmex plans to launch fixed wireless services in Lima and Callao in the fourth quarter of 2006.

Telmex won the license in April with a bid of US$4.95mn, well above the US$3.5mn minimum that private investment promotion agency ProInversión had established.

After signing the concession contract on Wednesday (May 17), Telmex plans to immediately start studies to define the exact locations for service deployment. The concession requires the operator to install 7,000 lines in the 16 districts in Lima and Callao.

ProInversión has previously said this concession would require further investments of approximately US$15mn over the next 20 years.

The concession, including rights to spectrum in the 3500MHz band, is for a 20-year period and will allow Telmex to provide local telephony and carrier services over a wireless last mile, as well as internet.

Telmex beat out Nextel del Perú, which offered US$5mn, as well as Impsat, which did not place a bid in the end.

BNamericas.com"

Posted to the site on 18th May 2006