Brazil’s America Net spends USD6.4m on fibre expansion; targets 5,000 lines by year end

Brazilian alternative fixed line operator America Net has invested BRL10.5 million (USD6.4 million) to expand its fibre-optic network and plans to offer its services to 5,000 customers by the end of 2011. According to local journal Inteligemcia, America Net, which focuses on the SME segment in the country, hopes to benefit from the growth in popularity of fixed portability to double its customer base from the current level of around 2,500 by 31 December. The firm’s commercial director Sergio Sa is quoted as saying that ‘number portability provides greater flexibility in the telecommunications market’, and America Net hopes to capitalise on services such as its EdgeVox PBX line, which it claims can reduce end users’ phone bills by up to 80%.