WASHINGTON-Wireline provider Grupo CentroAmericano de Telecomunicaciones (GCA Telecom) has become the first private-sector company to provide basic telephony services in El Salvador. To help deploy services faster and easier in badly underserved areas, the company is using microwave radio and Wireless Local Loop (WLL) technology.
Until now, government-owned ANTEL, slated for privatization soon, has installed fewer than 300,000 lines throughout the country and has a waiting list of 100,000 plus. With a population of 5.66 million, El Salvador is a small developing country in Central America, south of Mexico.
GCA Telecom’s network will provide basic telephony services in 11 regions of the country, serving up to 60,000 subscribers. The company does not intend to compete directly against ANTEL, but rather serve the areas where ANTEL has failed to provide service. Through an agreement signed in November 1997, GCA Telecom will interconnect with ANTEL’s network.
U.S.-based World Access Inc. won the contract to supply, install and interconnect the necessary infrastructure equipment for GCA Telecom over the next two years, a contract with a potential value of US$20 million.
El Salvador is served by one cellular provider, Telemovil El Salvador, whose owners include Millicom International Cellular S.A. Telemovil has about 25,000 subscribers on its AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone Service) network.
