Nicaragua has launched a tender for two new mobile operator licenses, EFE reports, citing Orlando Castillo, head of telecoms regulator Telcor (Instituto Nicaraguense de Telecomunicaciones y Correos). License winners will be able to provide mobile voice, broadband, and 4G services across the country.

Nicaragua currently has two mobile voice operators, namely America Movil’s Claro unit and Telefonica which operates under the Movistar brand name. Yota Mobile WiMAX and IBW provide mobile data services.

According to Telcor data, Nicaragua has over 4 million active phone lines, of which 2.5 million are in the Claro network, and 1.5 million in Movistar’s network. However, according to Castillo, Claro and Movistar have not covered the entre Nicaraguan territory. Particularly, rural and semi-rural areas are currently uncovered, Castillo added.

The Telcor representative estimates that over 1 million new customers would be interested in acquiring a mobile phone line.

Castillo further said that companies from China, South Koreea, and Taiwan have already shown interest in bidding for a new mobile license in Nicaragua.

Source: Telecompaper.com