Mexican carrier Telcel is preparing to launch LTE services in 2012. Currently, the America Movil-owned carrier is working on trials, with plans for a pilot project scheduled for the last quarter of the year. Deployment is likely to be in large cities, such as Ciudad de México.
Along with LTE technology, Telcel is implementing HSPA+ service, with the goal of reaching 27% of the population by the end of the year. The company will expand its HSPA+ coverage next year as well.
Telcel counts 66.9 million mobile users, of which 13 million have Internet access. Most of its subscribers use 2G and 3G protocols. In fact, 2G GSM reaches 99% of Mexican’s population, while HSPA covers 82% of the population.
Shares
In the begining of August, America Movil announced that its board of directors approved a move to acquire all of the shares of Telefonos de Mexico, S.A.B. de CV (“Telmex”), that it does not already own, either directly or indirectly.
The offer will include all actions represented by American Depositary Receipts (ADSs). To accept this offer by the shareholders of Telmex, América Móvil will acquire 40.04% of the outstanding shares of Telmex. With this acquisition, added to 59.96% of the outstanding shares of Telmex, America Movil will own all of the shares representing the capital stock of Telmex.
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