Subject: [NEXTEL-1] More LatAm telcoms news

From: Marcel <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2002 18:56:11 -0500

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More LatAm telcoms news

November 15, 2002 12:00am

Business News Americas

BNamericas.com via NewsEdge Corporation : Brazil's Workers Party (PT) has named Israel Bayma to head the transitional government's telecoms & communications department, local tech news agency Computerworld reported. PT presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won the second round election October 27. The main issues facing Bayma include the renewal of contracts for fixed line incumbents, the entrance of digital TV in Brazil, and how to use the telecoms sector's universal service fund Fust.

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The fund manager of Brazil's technology and telecoms fund Funttel approved this week the implementation of an experimental high speed fiber optic network project called Giga, local press reported. The fund has budgeted 55mn reais (US$14.9mn) for Giga over a three-year period. Project partners include fixed line operators Telesp, Telemar and CTBC, along with data company Pegasus and long distance operator Intelig, which are expected to bring another 30mn reais to the project.

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Colombia's Medellin-based public services firm EPM has received 8,000 applications for its PC and Internet connection offer, of which 3,779 have been authorized, Colombian daily El Tiempo reported. EPM awarded Hewlett Packard Colombia a US$113mn contract to supply 200,000 PCs on September 30, the first of which will be delivered on December 2. EPM is offering the package for US$480 until April 2003, with 24 hours/month dial-up access included. Excess connection time is charged at 10 pesos/pulse or 20 pesos/pulse in peak hours.

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US-based satellite broadband service provider Hughes Network Systems (HNS) has authorized electronic components and computer accessories distributor SND Electronics to distribute its HNS Direcway Internet services to Latin American customers, HNS said in a statement. SND customers will receive broadband satellite service utilizing HNS' hub and centralized network management center located in Germantown, Maryland. HNS will supply all support services, equipment, software and technology necessary. "Broadband satellite technology such as Direcway is the key to providing emerging markets, especially those in rural areas, with high-quality, fast Internet connections at low cost," SND Guatemala president Eduardo Pimentel said. SND will cover the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Guatemala initially, gradually expanding to other Central American countries, Mexico, the Caribbean and possibly Brazil.

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The court-approved reorganization plan for bankrupt multinational digital trunking operator NII Holdings went into effect on November 12, the company said Thursday in a statement. The event marks the official culmination of legal procedures related to the company's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, NII said. Under the terms of the plan, NII - formerly Nextel International - will reduce its debts from US$2.8bn to less than US$500mn, and will receive additional funding and capital amounting to US$190mn. NII has operations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Peru.

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