VTR headhunts Entel executive

Chilean triple play service provider VTR has appointed Konrad Burchardt as the company's VP for products and marketing, local press reported. Burchardt worked for 13 years at rival operator Entel as commercial VP for fixed networks, where he successfully implemented marketing campaigns and the multicarrier service in Chile. The executive's appointment comes at a time when rumors in the industry about Entel's future are rife, especially those related to a possible merger with VTR. Another rumor circulating is the possibility of Mexican magnate Carlos Slim, owner of América Móvil (NYSE: AMX) and Telmex (NYSE: TMX), acquiring Entel, with the aim of expanding his mobile and fixed businesses in Chile through Smartcom and Telmex Chile, respectively. Burchardt's appointment is a key element for the company in its plans to enter the mobile business, an idea that was confirmed after the company participated in the process to acquire mobile operator Smartcom from Spanish electric company Endesa. VTR lost this process to América Móvil. However, VTR has been reported to be interested in participating in the auction to acquire the spectrum Movistar Chile, the local unit of Spain's Telefónica Móviles (NYSE: TEM), plans to sell. This process is among conditions the Chilean authorities established to authorize the combined operations of TEM's two local units Telefónica Móvil and BellSouth.