ICT: The week in 10 stories

A controversial proposal to merge Colombia's telecommunications and TV regulators has resurfaced in a new bill to modernize the ICT sector.

CHILE

Telco Grupo Gtd has proposed building a 3,500km submarine fiber optic cable linking the country's north and south, and doubling current installed capacity.

PERU

Telecom regulator Osiptel says it will block 1mn cell phones with invalid international mobile equipment identities (IMEIs) by the end of November.

PARAGUAY

Paraguay is planning to invest US$13-15mn in connecting public buildings via a national fiber network.

BRAZIL

Telecom Italia, parent of telco TIM Brasil, is considering bidding for Nextel Brasil, the last-standing Latin American operation of US telecom group NII Holdings, according to a Bloomberg report.

The science, technology, innovation and communications ministry will activate 16 satellite internet points in the Pacaraima region, in Roraima state on the border with Venezuela.

Brazil and Chile are advancing talks to end roaming fees for citizens who travel between the two countries, newspaper La Tercera reported.

REGIONAL

IBM is working to bring artificial intelligence solutions to industries ranging from agribusiness and mining to electric power distribution in Latin America, in search of improving process efficiency.

Spanish telecom group Telefónica reshuffled and relaunched its Wayra startup acceleration platform.

VENEZUELA

Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro announced plans to launch a fourth satellite, named Guaicaipuro, providing telecommunications services.