Enitel Eyes US$100mn Investment in 2008

Nicaraguan incumbent fixed line provider Enitel, owned by Mexican mobile holding company América Móvil, invested US$130mn in 2007 and plans to invest US$100mn this year, Enitel CEO David Ibarra was quoted as saying by local daily La Prensa.

According to Ibarra, Enitel added 550,000 new subscribers in 2007 bringing the total to 2mn and the goal for 2008 is for 50% of the country's population of approximately 5.6mn to have some sort of service from Enitel.

The company plans to focus on expansion of its mobile network in the underserved south and north Atlantic regions.

The executive said all cities in the country with over 3,000 inhabitants have mobile telephony service and, "we are working to reach 153 municipalities and expect to increase internet coverage via mobile telephones."

Enitel said in February 2007 it would invest US$250mn from 2007-09 following the visit of Carlos Slim, owner of América Móvil.

Posted to the site on 3rd January 2008