Roundup: Telefónica, Cantv, Zhone

Ecuadorian telecoms operator Telefónica Ecuador has appointed José Manuel Casas as its new president, the company said in a statement. The recently appointed executive previously worked for Telefónica Móviles Colombia as the firm's marketing and sales VP. Casas also worked for Banco Santander and Kairos Europe. Telefónica Ecuador is fully owned by Spanish telecoms giant Telefónica (NYSE: TEF). *** Venezuela's state-run telecoms operator Cantv has activated a next-generation node in El Recreo, Apure state, the telco said in a statement. The deployment will benefit 400 homes in the community, Cantv said. With the new node, Cantv will be able to offer voice and internet services. *** Brazilian telecoms firm Ligue Telecom has selected US company Zhone Technologies to deploy the latter's MXK multi-service access node (MSAN) system, Zhone said in a statement. Ligue Telecom provides VoIP and data services to residential and business customers and also provides wholesale termination for other providers and companies in Paraná state. Ligue Telecom began integrating Zhone's MXK terabit access platform into its network in 2012 and plans to add premium gigabit passive optical network (GPON) services, expanding the network to service several additional cities in the region by mid-2013.