The flagship publication of Argentina’s Grupo Clarin, Clarin, reported that its cable subsidiary Cablevision is preparing a legal challenge to the Argentine government over the cancellation of its own unit Fibertel’s licence to operate.
Cablevision’s…
The flagship publication of Argentina’s Grupo Clarin, Clarin, reported that its cable subsidiary Cablevision is preparing a legal challenge to the Argentine government over the cancellation of its own unit Fibertel’s licence to operate.
Cablevision’s general manager Carlos Moltini said that a telecoms licence could be revoked if the company holding that licence declares bankruptcy or is otherwise dissolved. However, Cablevision absorbed Fibertel in 2003 – an operation in which Fibertel was not necessarily dissolved and as such, its licence remained intact.
The government decision was due to Fibertel’s merger with Cablevision, which according to federal planning minister Julio de Vido was not approved by the country’s telecoms ministry SeCom.
Because media giant Grupo Clarin has been critical of the government of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, many in the market see the withdrawal of Fibertel’s licence as politically motivated.
The government of Argentina announced earlier this week that it had licensed DirecTV to provide broadband services across the country.
Representatives of Grupo Clarin were not available for comment at the time of going to press.
