Broadcasting giant Grupo Televisa (NYSE:TV) is considering renting America Movil’s (NYSE:AMX) network infrastructure to launch an MVNO, or offer additional services through Sky, its executive VP said.
During an earnings conference call, Alfonso de…
Broadcasting giant Grupo Televisa (NYSE:TV) is considering renting America Movil‘s (NYSE:AMX) network infrastructure to launch an MVNO, or offer additional services through Sky, its executive VP said.
During an earnings conference call, Alfonso de Angoitia told analysts that “with seven million subscribers, Sky has the opportunity to launch other services using America Movil’s network“.
An MVNO launch would mark Televisa’s re-entry into telecoms, having sold its 50% stake in mobile carrier Iusacell to its partner Grupo Salinas, which later sold the operator to AT&T.
Last week, telecoms regulator the IFT forced America Movil-owned fixed-line incumbent Telmex to give rivals last mile access to its phone network.
Analysts believe the AMX option would be best, since its network covers most of the country.
The Carlos Slim-owned telco has 60 days to submit its proposed service offering, and will be required to share its network in 24 cities: Acapulco, Aguascalientes, Celaya, Chihuahua, Ciudad de Mexico, Ciudad Juarez, Coatzacoalcos, Cuernavaca, Guadalajara, Hermosillo, La Laguna, La Paz, Leon, Merida, Monterrey, Morelia, Puebla, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, Tampico, Tijuana, Toluca, Veracruz and Villahermosa.
AMX might bid in upcoming spectrum auction
AMX’s wireless carrier Telcel may take part in Mexico’s upcoming spectrum auction, scheduled for October, the head of the IFT radioelectric spectrum unit Alejandro Navarrete told local media.
He reportedly added that the regulator would need to assess whether, as a dominant player, the operator should be subject to restrictions in the bidding process. However, it may still be allowed to participate in the tender.
The IFT plans to tender 130 MHz in the 2.5 GHz band, 90 MHz in the 700 MHz band and 80 MHz in the AWS band, which covers frequencies in the 1.7 GHz/2.1 GHz range.
