Quartet bid for Compartel project

The Colombian Communications Ministry has received bids from four companies for a contract to provide broadband connectivity for its Compartel universal access programme. The four – Edatel, Internet por Colombia, a consortium of Comsat International and Inalambrica, and Gilat Satellite Networks – will be notified by 27 July as to who the winner is. The ministry has budgeted USD52 million for the Compartel project, which aims to increase the availability of internet access to the 3,000 schools, 946 municipalities, 624 town halls, 120 hospitals and 30 military bases already covered by Compartel facilities.