Movistar Expects to Deploy 400 Base Stations in 2007

Venezuelan mobile company Movistar, owned by Spanish giant Telefónica, expects to deploy 400 base stations nationwide this year, newspaper El Universal reported.

The company currently has 800 base stations in operation and has invested US$200mn in backup infrastructure for the company's GSM network.

"Expansion plans for this year are really ambitious," the newspaper quoted company president Luis Malvido as saying.

According to the executive, Movistar is ready to compete with Cantv in the mobile segment once the Venezuelan government takes control of the company.

"We have successfully competed in other countries, with other states, with other brands or with big names," Malvido said.

Movistar forecasts mobile penetration in Venezuela of 80% by the end of the year, mainly boosted by the expansion of the GSM network in the country, the newspaper reported."

Posted to the site on 25th April 2007