CTI Móvil launches mobile service

Mexican mobile telco América Móvil (NYSE: AMX) has started services in Uruguay under its local subsidiary CTI Móvil, according to local Mexican daily El Informador. "We are currently operating in Montevideo and Maldonado and for January 15 we hope to cover the corridor between Colonia and Punta del Este," CTI Móvil manager Julio Porras was reported as saying. Complaints the company lodged over delays experienced in the signing of an interconnection agreement with the local state-run telco Antel were glossed over by Porras. "Now we ought to thank Antel for its work, which has permitted us to enter the market ahead of plan," he said. CTI Móvil sees great potential to develop Uruguay's interior region, where a little more than half of the country's 3.3 million people live, according to Porras. CTI Móvil paid US$18.1mn in May for three mobile band licenses with a contract life of 20 years. Spain's Telefónica Móviles (NYSE: TEM), which operates in Uruguay under the Movicom name, bought two bands for US$12mn the same day. The remaining license did not receive any offers.