Entel raises rural rates 50% in Sittel deal

Bolivian telecoms operator Entel raised its rural telephony rates by 50% this week, as part of a deal cut with telecoms regulator Sittel, local press reported. The impact on bills is reported to be negligible because as part of the deal, the company will now charge in 20-second blocks, instead of 60-second blocks, according to the report. The president of the Committee for Promoting Development of the Provinces (Cidepro), Jhon Cava, sent a letter of complaint about the rates hike to Sittel president René Bustillos. Meanwhile, Sittel said it is likely to allow cable television operator Video Cable Piraí (VCP) provide the full range of telecoms services after it presented all the correct documentation, local newspaper El Deber reported. VCP provides cable TV services in the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. And finally, Sucre telecoms operator Cotes uncovered a scheme for connecting customers illegally to the cable television network of its TV Cable subsidiary, according to local paper Corredor del Sur. The company was tipped off after a number of customers requested connection and one week later called up to cancel. A number of employees have been fired, Cotes chairman Gonzalo Pórcel was quoted as saying.