Mexico To Auction Wireless Spectrum In Weeks - Minister
August 24 2009 - 4:43PM
Dow Jones News
The Mexican government expects to begin accepting bids in coming
weeks for the sale of wireless spectrum for mobile telephony
services, Communications and Transport Minister Juan Molinar said
Monday.
Molinar said at a press conference that the government will open
the bidding process at the end of August or in the first half of
September.
Telecommunications regulator Cofetel has said spectrum in the
1.7GHz and 1.9GHz bands will be auctioned simultaneously.
The government hopes the long-delayed auction of new spectrum
will increase competition in Mexico's mobile phone industry, where
two companies control more than 90% of the market.
America Movil (AMX) local unit Telcel leads the way with 72% of
the mobile subscribers, followed by the local unit of Spain's
Telefonica (TEF) with nearly 20%.
-By Paul Kiernan, Dow Jones Newswires; (5255)5001-5726,
paul.kiernan@dowjones.com