The Argentine unit of Mexican telecoms giant Telmex and US mobile handset manufacturer Motorola are conducting tests of WiMax technology in Argentina, newspaper Infobae reported. Tests are being conducted in the greater Buenos Aires area as well as in the cities of Cordoba and Mendoza.
Through this technology, Telmex expects initially to target the residential and SME segments.
According to the report, Telmex and Motorola have 30 active trials in other countries across the region.
In related news, Telmex Argentina has asked local communications ministry SeCom for authorization to provide telephony and internet services through the StarOne satellite, owned by Brazilian fixed line operator Embratel Participacoes, which is controlled by the Telmex group, local press reported.
The satellite could provide coverage to most of Argentina.
Telmex has been developing a WiMax strategy in the country. In June, a local court handling the debt restructuring process of local investment group Sociedad Comercial del Plata (SCP) authorized the sale of SCP's broadband access solutions provider Ertach to Telmex. However, the process still requires final authorization.
Ertach's goal for 2007 is to migrate 70% of its nationwide network to WiMax technology.
According to Juan Gnius, VP of telecoms consultancy Signals Consulting, Telmex has a diversified strategy to compete with incumbent operators Telefónica de Argentina and Telecom Argentina.
"In other countries across the region, the company is already targeting the residential segment. However, in the local market, Telmex is focusing on the corporate sector. I believe the company will test several technologies and then decide which is the most convenient for its strategy," he said.
Gnius said Telmex is testing different ways of providing services to the end customer without having to rent the infrastructure of local incumbents.
Telmex Argentina is the country's third largest telecommunications operator, behind TAR and TEO.
Posted to the site on 5th September 2007
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/25850.php