The Argentinean unit of Spain-based carrier, Telefónica, announced that it will invest about $2.042 billion (10,000 million pesos) over the two-year period of 2013-2014. Investments will focus on developing communication services and expanding the company’s data-customer base, as well as increasing broadband capacity, expanding mobile networks and implementing fiber optic networks.
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Telefónica also stated that the fiber optic network is set to reach 1,000 central telephone cabinets, enabling the company to offer higher bandwidth of up to 40 megabits per second to residential customers in Argentina.
Moreover, Telefónica’s wireless unit, Movistar, plans to increase its extension nodes by 80%, reaching 7,500 sites and optimizing the quality of navigation and mobile data traffic. It also plans to double the capacity of its mobile network to meet the country’s service demand.
The telecom operator said it invested about $919 million (4,500 million pesos) in 2012. The carrier’s major projects in Argentina last year included expanding to reach 4,300 nodes and mobile sites; subsidizing the price of smartphones by 80%; launching online content platforms for small and medium enterprises (to encourage the adoption of technologies to solve business-processes) and for residential customers to promote safer Internet use for families.
Telefónica also highlighted the optical fiber project “Clorinda,” completed mid-year and included the construction of 320 kilometers of fiber optical lines between the cities of Resistencia (Chaco) and Clorinda (Formosa). This work will allow Telefónica to provide services over its own network to Paraguay, offering an international connectivity in the neighboring country. With this work, Telefónica completed the layout of 25,000 kilometers of fiber nationwide.
2012 for Telefónica Argentina in numbers
- Telefónica Argentina ended 2012 with a total of 5 million broadband accesses, including fixed and mobile subscriptions.
- 100,000 pieces of equipment manufactured in Tierra del Fuego were sold.
- 200,000 customers and more than 20,000 transactions for Wanda, the mobile wallet service that offers credit refills, money transfers and payments in shops.
- 18 Argentinian firms supported by the company’s Wayra accelerator project, which was started with the support of the second generation of technology entrepreneurs in the country. Among the supported firms, 13 have expanded their business in the region.
