MEXICO CITY-America Movil said the Nicaraguan government accepted its bid in a public auction for a 49-percent stake in Empresa Nicaraguense del Telecomunicaciones S.A. (Enitel). The bid price was $49.6 million.
Enitel holds a CDMA 1900 MHz license in Nicaragua, but does not currently offer service. It also is a fixed and other telecommunications services provider in Nicaragua. Megatel-Emce owns 40 percent of Enitel, and company employees own the other 11 percent of the operator.
America Movil has been buying stakes in several mobile and telecom operators in Latin America during 2003 to boost its footprint in the region. It has purchased stakes in operators in El Salvador, Brazil, Ecuador and Argentina throughout the year.
