Category Archives: High Tech

Mobile penetration in Latin America reaches 110%, but Internet access is low across the region

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Based on a new report by LACNIC (Latin American and Caribbean Internet Association of Internet Addresses) internet penetration in Latin America is 40 percent, with a low broadband presence. The rate is expected to grow to 60 percent in 2015, thanks to measures being taken to foster digital inclusion.

Also according to Lacnic, mobile telephony penetration in the region has reached 110 percent, although there is still 20 percent of the population without access to the service. Lacnic also sees mobile broadband as the best solution for the provision of broadband services.

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Internet traffic growth of 52% per annum until 2015

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Internet traffic in Latin America is expected to grow an average of 52% per year between 2010 and 2015, driven mainly by video, according to data from Cisco’s Visual Network Index.

In 2015, online video will account for around 60 percent of total data traffic in Latin America, with the rest split between file sharing (25.31%) and other data and web browsing (14%), Cisco director of governmental relations Giuseppe Marrara said, speaking at the ConvergeTec seminar in Sao Paulo.

More and more users are watching full episodes of TV series and feature films on their computers and, by 2015, these full-length videos will account for 49.42 percent of online videos. On the other hand, short videos will account for almost 22 percent of video traffic in Latin America, while videos streamed directly to connected TVs will be about 7.5 percent.

Content and cloud applications accounted for 44 percent of total traffic on mobile networks in Latin America in 2011 and this percentage should jump to 72 percent of all traffic on the networks of mobile operators in the region by 2015. In 2011, offload WiFi accounted for only 2 percent of total mobile traffic; volume is forecast to reache 13 percent in 2016.

Synapsis acquires Diveo Colombia for $35 million

High Tech

Chilean IT firm Synapsis has acquired the assets of broadband and IT services provider Diveo Colombia from Brazilian internet portal UOL. The acquisition price reaches USD 35 million, local newspaper Portafolio reports, citing Leonardo Covalschi, Synapsis CEO.

Synapsis plans to increase its staff in Colombia by 35 percent over the next four years, by creating 100 new jobs.

Nokia Siemens Cuts 3,500 Jobs in Brazil

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Nokia Siemens Networks ended a service deal with Oi in Brazil, resulting in 3,500 job cuts on top of 17,000 already announced.

Most of the employees involved have left the company, Ben Roome, a spokesman for Nokia Siemens, said by e-mail. Reuters reported the news earlier today.

Nokia Siemens announced a five-year field maintenance deal with Oi, the telephone services brand of Telemar Norte Leste SA (TMAR5), in 2009, taking on about 3,000 Oi and third-party employees. The company is cutting about 17,000 jobs in its main businesses as it pares business lines to focus on mobile broadband equipment and related services.

“The exit obviously contributes to our focus and cost- reduction plans,” Roome said. It doesn’t affect the company’s Sao Paulo global network operations center, he added.

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Millicom to Offer Mobile Money Transfer Services in Latin America

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Western Union has signed an agreement with Millicom to introduce cross-border mobile money transfers in Latin America though Millicom’s Tigo branded mobile networks.

The first cross-border money transfer service under this agreement will be launched soon in Paraguay under the Giros Tigo brand (Tigo Cash). The service will be rolled out over time in other markets in Latin America.

Specific services under this agreement will vary by country, but over time, Tigo customers in most of Millicom’s Latin American markets will be able to receive money from Western Union customers directly into their mobile accounts. They will also be able to cash out transactions at any Tigo location offering the Giros Tigo facility.

Millicom offers Mobile Financial Services and in particular in-market money transfers in Paraguay, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Tanzania, Ghana and Rwanda and will extend its offering to more services and into more markets over time.

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America Movil launches App Store in Latin America

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America Movil has launched its iApps Application Stores powered by Appia. The platform aims to bring a comprehensive catalog of apps and games to America Movil subscribers across Latin America. The iApps Application Stores are currently available through America Movil’s operating partners Claro, Comcel, and Telcel in 18 countries across Latin America including Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico.

Appia’s Application Catalog includes thousands of applications and games for Android, Blackberry, Symbian, and Java phones. The iApps Application Stores include both paid and free applications such as social media, news, weather and sports apps in Spanish, English and Portuguese. App developers including Rovio and Gameloft are distributing their app through the iApps Application store, along with Facebook, Electronic Arts, and MocoSpace. Appia’s application marketplace service provides a managed service platform for America Movil’s iApps Application Stores, including the catalog of applications as well as the platform for storefront merchandising and commerce.

America Movil has deployed the Application Stores across its operators in 18 countries, and all stores are integrated with America Movil’s billing and customer care systems.