NewsWhore
02-24-2011, 04:50 PM
Leading telecommunications sector executives visited Hoy newspaper yesterday for an interview focusing on the companies and their key investments for 2011.
Claro president Oscar Pena said that the company is planning aUS$340 million investment to expand their fiber optic network, expand 3G coverage and introduce new cable TV technology.
Orange president Jean Marc Harion says that in 2011 they will invest US$20 million to expand 3G technology and introduce 4G technology, both related to Internet access. He also announced corporate responsibility programs with the construction of two training schools for employees, and a technical university.
Tricom marketing director Marc Rocher announced a US$50 million investment that will focus on cable TV, faster Internet services and an expanded mobile network.
The companies warned that one of the major problems affecting the sector is security related. They urged the government to fight organized crime that they are convinced is behind major cable, equipment, fuel and solar panel robberies. Tricom said that since the end of 2010 and the first few months of this year they have suffered RD$2 million in losses as a result of cable extraction. Pena said that the ban on copper wire exports last year had reduced the robberies, but they have resumed. He suspects there are illegal exports of the copper wiring going on. Claro vice president Freddy Dominguez said that to steal 10,000, 15,000 or 30,000 gallons of diesel requires a major structure for the theft itself and for the subsequent distribution of the fuel.
The companies also criticized the introduction of new municipal taxation that affects the installation of equipment aimed at improving telecom services to consumers.
Hairon sees great room for expansion. He said that only 25% of the population has access to the Internet. The 3G Plus plan would give almost everyone access to the Internet, but he called for better distribution of frequencies.
Tricom public relations director Liza Arzeno says another problem affecting the companies is a duplication of red tape by government offices. She called for a single government office facility to handle all the bureaucratic procedures so that the telecom platform could become more efficient.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#4)
Claro president Oscar Pena said that the company is planning aUS$340 million investment to expand their fiber optic network, expand 3G coverage and introduce new cable TV technology.
Orange president Jean Marc Harion says that in 2011 they will invest US$20 million to expand 3G technology and introduce 4G technology, both related to Internet access. He also announced corporate responsibility programs with the construction of two training schools for employees, and a technical university.
Tricom marketing director Marc Rocher announced a US$50 million investment that will focus on cable TV, faster Internet services and an expanded mobile network.
The companies warned that one of the major problems affecting the sector is security related. They urged the government to fight organized crime that they are convinced is behind major cable, equipment, fuel and solar panel robberies. Tricom said that since the end of 2010 and the first few months of this year they have suffered RD$2 million in losses as a result of cable extraction. Pena said that the ban on copper wire exports last year had reduced the robberies, but they have resumed. He suspects there are illegal exports of the copper wiring going on. Claro vice president Freddy Dominguez said that to steal 10,000, 15,000 or 30,000 gallons of diesel requires a major structure for the theft itself and for the subsequent distribution of the fuel.
The companies also criticized the introduction of new municipal taxation that affects the installation of equipment aimed at improving telecom services to consumers.
Hairon sees great room for expansion. He said that only 25% of the population has access to the Internet. The 3G Plus plan would give almost everyone access to the Internet, but he called for better distribution of frequencies.
Tricom public relations director Liza Arzeno says another problem affecting the companies is a duplication of red tape by government offices. She called for a single government office facility to handle all the bureaucratic procedures so that the telecom platform could become more efficient.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#4)