Colombia’s ICT ministry has received four bids in the tender for its National Fibre Optic Project. The programme aims to deploy fibre connections in 400 municipalities across the country.

The bidders are Telmex Colombia; the Fibra Optica Colombiana consortium comprising Total Play and TV Azteca; the Conectividad Para Todos temporary consortium comprising Media Commerce Partners, ZTE, Exicom, and Andinatel; and a temporary consortium comprising Colombia Telecomunicaciones and Telefonica Moviles).

The government plans to invest over COP 415.8 million in the project, via a public-private partnership. The project is expected to expand internet penetration to over 90 percent of the Colombian population. The initiative is part of the Colombian government’s Vive Digital Plan which aims to reach over 8.8 million broadband connections across the country by 2014.

Colombia’s National Fibre Optic Project will be developed in 30 months, and will include various phases. As part of the first phase, the government plans to connect at least 120 municipalities by end-2012, while in the second phase an additional 120 municipalities will receive broadband connections.

See the Telmex Colombia record in Latin Target.

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