Edatel expands beyond domestic territory

Colombian alternative telco Edatel, a subsidiary of Medellin-based municipal telco EPM, has announced plans to install 61,000 lines outside its home department of Antioquia by the middle of 2004. The telco hopes that the current projects to expand to Cordoba and Sucre will enable it to reach its goal to have 30% of its total lines in service outside the Antioquia region by 2006. Edatel plans to offer fixed and fixed wireless basic telephony, public telephony, internet access and data transmission service in both its new coverage areas. In Cordoba it already has 23,000 fixed wireless lines in service and 688 public telephones, with plans to roll out a further 20,000 lines to six municipalities in the next phase, while the Sucre project involves the installation of 21,000 lines in seven municipalities. The telco has so far financed the expansion with its own cash flow, but said it is looking for external funding sources for the next stage of the project.