Colombian providers reveal big plans

State-owned telco Colombia Telecom and wireless operator Colombia Móvil have both announced ambitious expansion programmes for this year. According to BNamericas, Telecom plans to carry out 15 expansion projects in the Sucre region alone in the first half of the year, adding to the 8,300 new mainlines it installed in the area in 2004, and expects to start offering Sucre residents fixed broadband services by mid-June. Colombia Móvil says it will invest USD220 million in 2005 to increase its network coverage and capacity and improve customer service, aiming to add around 850,000 new subscribers by year-end; it plans to have coverage of 200 cities by the middle of the year.