BUENOS AIRES, Argentina—Entel Chile had a US$51 million turnover during 2001, 21-percent more than last year, due to an increase of 32 percent in sales that reached US$1.04 billion. At the same time, the company announced investments in 2002 will total US$250 million, US$35 million of which shall be used to expand its wireless local loop network.
Entel Chile, a Telecom Italia operator, had its best results in the cellular telephony business. The company’s administration and finances manager, Felipe Ureta, said, “Our strategy consists of capturing the potential that mobile telephony still has. We are hoping for a national penetration of 35 percent this year. In 2001 it was 30 percent.”
Entel PCS was the unit that invoiced the most with US$300 million and an increase of 40 percent compared with last year’s profits. It was the first operator in South America to launch 2.5 generation services using GPRS/GSM technology, and it is the carrier with the most cellular clients in Chile with 1.94 million users by the end of December, 52 percent more than last year.
