TV Azteca will build and operate fiber optic network in Colombia

TV Azteca, S.A.B. de C.V. won this week a tender to build and operate a fiber optic network that would cover about 80% of Colombia, an area where about 40 million Colombians reside.The project consists of the installation of the network and the commercialization of telecommunications services for offices and homes in 753 municipalities. In addition to adding value to these regions, the project will provide an important platform for Azteca to enter other areas that represent Colombian telecommunications business opportunities in the future.The Colombian government will provide approximately US$230 million for the construction of the network in the 753 municipalities.“The Colombian government is applying a well-directed subsidy to ensure that the most important services for access to the information superhighway are within the reach of everyone, especially the country’s neediest, at accessible prices, through the efficient operations of a competitive company,” said Ricardo B. Salinas, chairman of Grupo Salinas.