More LatAm telecoms news - Regional

Published: Tuesday, January 7, 2003 18:22 (GMT -0400)

By Business News Americas staff reporters

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Local Telephony | Internet/Data | Government/Regulations | Financing

Andinanet, the ISP business unit of Ecuadorian telco Andinatel, has selected US-based solutions developer Zhone Technologies to provide it with Single Line Multi-Service (SLMS) architecture to support its comprehensive multi-service DSL product, Zhone said Tuesday in a statement. Zhone's newly deployed architecture allows Andinanet to simultaneously offer high-speed data as well as traditional voice services over its existing local loop infrastructure. "This deployment further demonstrates global market acceptance for SLMS and Zhone's worldwide dedication to next-generation local-loop infrastructure. No other company can make that claim," said Jorge Rivadulla, regional sales director for Zhone in Latin America.

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Colombian fixed line operator ETB will prioritize expansion to other cities in 2003 beyond its home base of Bogota, Colombian daily La Republica quoted ETB chairman Paulo Orozco as saying. The executive added the company will not forget its local area, with plans to improve coverage of poorly served areas in the capital. Another company goal is to proliferate broadband Internet access and strengthen the company's Internet market share, but much depends on the success of ETB's plan to raise cash by selling shares to the public. The company is also committed to a US$300mn PCS venture in partnership with Medellin-based EPM.

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Colombia's telecoms regulator CRT estimates service rates will increase by 3-4% this year depending on the use companies make of the rate ceilings allocated to them, Colombian daily La Republica reported. Bogota-based ETB is the only company whose rates are already at the maximum limit. However, ETB can raise rates further by 2 percentage points below the inflation rate, or 4%, given that the inflation rate is expected to reach 6%. The figure could be further adjusted by virtue of the quality factor CRT attributes to the company.

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