SAN DIEGO-Pegaso PCS, the Mexican operating company of Leap Wireless International Inc.,
last week launched its first market in Tijuana, Mexico.
The company plans to build a nationwide network in Mexico
valued at $1.3 billion with Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara planned for launch this year.
The launch
ceremony was attended by Mexico’s Secretary of Communications and Transportation Carlos Ruiz Sacristan, Baja
California Gov. Alejandro Gonzalez Alcocer and Javier Lozano Alarcon, president of Cofetel, the Mexican Federal
Communications Commission.
Pegaso said it expects to offer wireless local loop as well as mobility service in the
future.
“The economies of the U.S. and Mexico are very tightly entwined,” said Harvey P. White,
chairman and chief executive officer of Leap. “Telecommunications infrastructure is imperative to support
economic growth in Mexico, and wireless is the fastest, most cost-effective way to add new phone
lines.”
According to Leap, teledensity in Mexico is only 9.7 percent, compared with 64 percent in the United
States. Only 3.5 percent of Mexican citizens have wireless phones, although the country experienced wireless
subscriber growth last year of 90 percent.
Pegaso and Sprint PCS have signed a roaming agreement allowing their
customers to roam onto each others’ networks.
Harris Corp. said it will provide network management capabilities to
Pegaso.
