Rumor nonaggression pact between Telcel and Telefónica

Where there's smoke, is that water takes, says a popular Mexican saying. Apparently, the rumors that Telcel and Telefonica have negotiated a nonaggression pact by the Latin American market could be true . The speculation began when Francisco Borrego, legal director of Grupo Salinas, filed a lawsuit in early March on a tacit agreement between both operators to take control of the region.

According to Borrego, the two would have fixed telephone to set tariffs that benefit. The indictment came because Isidro Fayne, vice chairman of Telefónica, also holds a seat on the Board of Inbursa, a financial group owned by Carlos Slim.

Rumours that the alliance revived now that Francisco Gil Diaz, general director of Telefonica in Mexico and Central America, is lobbying the Supreme Court to resolve the dispute in the interconnection tariffs for Telcel. A few months ago, Iusacell demanded that the government regulate these fees , since the telephone Grupo Salinas (now allied with Televisa ) considers to be excessive and arbitrary.

What is the problem? It turns out that in 2007, Gil Diaz had asked the Presidency of the Republic, the Ministry of Communications and Transport (SCT), the Federal Communications Commissions (Cofetel) and the Federal Competition Commission (CFC) that Telcel lowered interconnection charges . At that time, which is being sought Telefónica benefited from a lower cost, the same which, in theory, would be transferred to their service offerings for the customer.

Now that the Supreme Court's Office will discuss the issue, Gil Díaz has become the best lawyer in Telcel. Contrary to what you said four years ago, it appears that Telefonica's interest that the company keep costs Slim, because in this way are kept in check. With 94% of the Mexican market dominated by two (72% for Telcel, Telefonica 22%), it seems a fair deal. For businesses, of course, because without competition, the losers are the customers.

Rumor nonaggression pact between Telcel and Telefonica written ALT1040 April 28, 2011 by Pepe Flores
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