CTR: International LD traffic down 20%

International long distance traffic generated in Colombia over the first nine months of last year was down 20% compared to the same period in 2003, according to statistics published by telecoms regulator CRT. Domestic long distance minutes also dropped 17.4% in the same period. According to Álex Blanco, an executive at state-owned telco Colombia Telecomunicaciones, domestic calls represent 60% of long distance revenues that Colombia's three carriers make in a year, local newspaper El Tiempo reported. In 2003, the long distance market reported revenues of 1.5tn pesos (US$640mn), according to CRT. International long distance sales represent 30% of the total, and the remaining 10% comes from value added services and infrastructure rental. Telecom achieved constant growth compared to 2003 and had 46% of the long distance market, followed by Orbitel with 32% and ETB with 22%.