América Móvil explores possible Colombian acquisition - report

As the carrier seeks to expand its presence in the country

Mexican telco América Móvil is considering plans to snap up telecoms assets in Colombia from Grupo Salinas.

As reported by DPL News, Comcel, a subsidiary of América Móvil that operates as Claro in Colombia, filed a request to the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce (SIC) to integrate strategic assets of Azteca Comunicaciones Colombia and Total Play Comunicaciones Colombia.

It comes off the back of recent comments made by executives at América Móvil, that the carrier is looking to expand its footprint in Latin America.

América Móvil is owned by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim and is the incumbent telco in the market.

DPL reports that a potential acquisition would include the so-called National Fiber Optic Project Network (PNFO), which spans approximately 20,000 km, plus the ACC Network, which spans about 12,000 km. Both are operated by Azteca Comunicaciones, a company of the Salinas Group. Azteca Comunicaciones has operated in Colombia since 2011.

Meanwhile, Total Play Comunicaciones began operations in Colombia between 2021 and 2022, providing fiber optic broadband and television services.

“The fiber optic network associated with this operation is a necessary infrastructure for the country, designed to bring connectivity to areas where no other networks exist. In several municipalities, this is the only available infrastructure, on which essential services for the communities and for the functioning of the state depend,” noted América Móvil in a statement.

“For Claro, the evaluation of this integration is primarily driven by the potential to generate operational synergies that would stabilize and maintain this infrastructure, which currently experiences failures that impact service quality. Although it is not a commercially attractive asset, its proper operation is crucial to ensuring the continuity of connectivity in areas where no network alternatives currently exist.”

Claro has more than 10,660 towers in Colombia and provides its 5G service in 59 cities. The carrier has more than 40 million users in the market.