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Digicel launches operations in Honduras, invests $450Mn

  • November 20th, 2008
  • 5:59 am

The Latin American mobile operator Digicel launches its operations officially in Honduras with an investment of $450Mn. The investment also includes the amount it paid for Honduras’ fourth mobile license which is $80.1Mn, says Digicel Honduras’ CEO Miguel García.
According to CEO García, Digicel aims to have a subscriber base of 5,000 by year-end and to become country’s second largest mobile operator within a year of launching.
According to an unofficial statement the operator also additionally aims to take country’s mobile penetration to 80% which stands at 60% presently.
“Honduras is a very exciting market for us as it allows us to strengthen our presence in Central America. With a population of close to 7.6mn and mobile penetration at just 60%, there is huge potential for growth in this mobile market and we look forward to becoming a strong competitor,” the spokesperson said.

   

MIC completes Amnet’s acquisition for USD510 million (Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica)

  • October 3rd, 2008
  • 6:15 am

Millicom International Cellular announces the completion of Amnet Telecommunications Holding Limited’s acquisition. MIC acquired 100% of Amnet for USD510 million, following the agreement initially announced in July.
Amnet is a provider of broadband and cable television services in Costa Rica, Honduras and El Salvador, provides fixed line telephony in El Salvador and Honduras, and provides corporate data services in the aforementioned countries as well as Guatemala and Nicaragua.

   

Millicom launches 3G services in Guatemala, Honduras and Bolivia

  • September 1st, 2008
  • 6:00 am

Millicom, the global teleco, announces the launch of 3G services in Guatemala, Honduras and Bolivia. The launches in Paraguay, El Salvador and Colombia will be followed before the end of this year, with which the roll-out of 3G across all six of its markets in Latin America will be completed. Millicom is providing the full portfolio of 3G services including high speed mobile broadband, internet access for mobilecustomers via laptop, TV on mobile handsets, music and video downloads and video calling.
“The launch of 3G services in Latin America is the first step in the process of meeting the needs of our higher ARPU customers for broadband services. Broadband is expected to be a significant growth segment in these markets and one which we expect will be an important driver to our businesses going forward.”  says Marc Beuls, President and CEO of Millicom.

   

iPhone 3G launches in 20 countries on August 22

  • August 7th, 2008
  • 12:18 pm

The iPhone 3G will be launched in twenty more countries on August 22. All the operators concerned have made their formal announcements. 10 countries are Latin American.It is predicted that SingTel will also join the mix, but the reports are yet to be confirmed.

August 22 releases

    * Argentina - Telefonica and America Movil
    * Chile - Telefonica and America Movil
    * Colombia - Telefonica and America Movil
    * Czech Republic - O2
    * Ecuador - Telefonica and America Movil
    * El Salvador - Telefonica and America Movil
    * Estonia - Eesti Mobii Telefon
    * Guatemala - Telefonica and America Movil
    * Honduras - America Movil
    * Hungary - T-Mobile
    * India - Bharti Airtel and Vodafone
    * Paraguay - America Movil
    * Philippines - GlobeTelecom
    * Peru - Telefonica and America Movil
    * Poland - Orange and Era
    * Romania - Orange
    * Uruguay - Telefonica and America Movil

   

American Movil to begin iPhone sales in 10 countries across Latin America

  • August 7th, 2008
  • 7:23 am

American Movil, largest operator in Latin America, announced that it would begin selling Apple iPhone this month in ten countries of Latin America.

According to American Movil, the new iPhone will be available from August 22 in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.

It was in May that the company signed a deal for iPhone distribution across Latin America.

America Movil has already started sale of the device in Mexico and its Brazilian unit Claro is expected to begin sales soon.

   

Ericsson wins GSM/EDGE contract in Honduras

  • May 21st, 2008
  • 2:12 pm

Ericsson has been awarded a GSM/EDGE contract by Digicel Group in Honduras, making Ericsson the preferred supplier for Digicel’s operations in the Caribbean, El Salvador and now in Honduras.

Under the agreement Ericsson will be the sole supplier of a GSM/EDGE network including core network, radio access and microwave transmission.

The deal also includes Ericsson’s Mobile Softswitch Solution, which is capable of carrying large volumes of voice traffic in an up-to-date network architecture, the company added.

Ericsson will also provide services including network deployment and integration, design, optimisation and systems integration.

   
 

Globecomm Systems to build satellite network in Honduras (Honduras)

  • January 14th, 2008
  • 12:04 pm

Provider of satellite-based communications infrastructure services Globecomm Systems has been awarded an infrastructure contract from a telecommunications operator valued at USD 2.1 million. Globecomm Systems will build a satellite network, including one hub earth station and fifteen remote sites, throughout Honduras. Once installed, the network will enable the transmission of IP-based data and voice traffic via remote GSM mobile blackhaul for the telecom operator.

   

LatiNode expands VoIP coverage to Guatemala, Honduras

  • August 2nd, 2007
  • 2:41 pm

US-based voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) specialist LatiNode says it has launched its CrossFone residential service in Guatemala and Honduras, expanding its footprint in the Latin American region. LatiNode CEO Jorge Granados told BNamericas that his company now plans to expand the business model it launched successfully in Argentina three years ago to include new markets such as El Salvador and Nicaragua – although its two-year timeframe is subject to change. In Guatemala the company is planning to offer broadband services in addition to its core retail business: pre-paid calling and unlimited use VoIP subscription. In Honduras, where local telecoms laws require all DLD traffic to go through the country’s incumbent Hondutel, CrossFone is fully licensed as a ‘sub-operator’ of the telco, in compliance with Honduran law.
Meanwhile, in Argentina itself LatiNode now plans to extend its service portfolio to a triple-play offering through partnerships with local cablecos.

   
 

 

 

 

Hondutel sues La Prensa and El Heraldo

  • August 1st, 2007
  • 3:30 pm

Honduras’ national telecommunications company Hondutel is reportedly suing two of the country’s major newspapers – La Prensa and El Heraldo – for publishing articles it claims have tarnished the company’s image. In a press interview, Hondutel’s Marcelo Chimirri said his company was demanding ‘26.4 million dollars in damages’ from the dailies for publishing reports about alleged irregularities in Hondutel’s management which the telco says led US authorities to advise its telecom companies not to have any dealings with Hondutel.

The issue was preceded by controversy over a new draft telecoms law which would have strengthened the incumbent’s position in the Honduras market. However, the bill was rejected by Congress and Hondutel and the government now blame the failure on lobby groups – including the owners of the two named newspapers – for the situation. According to a leading Honduras online news portal, the two newspapers have denied waging a campaign to discredit the company.

   
 

MultiFon targets 150,000 users by end-2007, expresses interest in fourth mobile concession

  • June 15th, 2007
  • 12:17 pm

Honduran alternative fixed line operator MultiFon hopes to have 150,000 subscribers by the end of this year, up from the 120,000 it has today, says company CEO José Luis Rivera talking to BNamericas. MultiFon primarily offers services over an IP-based Personal Access System (iPAS) fixed-mobile network provided by US telecoms infrastructure supplier UTStarcom. It launched services in 2003.

Rivera also said that MultiFon is also interested in bidding for the country’s fourth mobile licence once government reforms of the telecoms law are finally adopted to allow the award of new mobile licences. The drafting of new telecoms legislation has been stuck in Congress for the past two years. Nonetheless, MultiFon says it would roll out mobile services in the 800MHz band and is currently conducting a feasibility study of the most suitable technology platform – GSM or CDMA2000.

Honduras is home to two mobile network operators, Tigo, of Luxembourg’s Millicom International Cellular, and Claro, backed by Mexico’s América Móvil. Fixed line incumbent Hondutel also owns a spectrum licence and has said it plans to become the nation’s third operator, though a launch date is not clear. In addition, the government plans to offer another mobile licence to allow the entrance of a fourth player.