Virgin Mobile Latin America receives license to operate in Mexico
- By Greg Rose -
- Nov 18, 2011
Virgin Mobile Latin America (VMLA) has received regulatory approval from Mexico’s Ministry of Communications and Transportation to provide wireless communications in Mexico as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO).
“We are very appreciative of the Ministry of Communications and Transportation and of the Federal Telecommunications Commission for their approval and support of our application," said VMLA's chairman Phil Wallace.
“We look forward to serving the needs of Mexico’s wireless users with new pricing and service options, backed with world-class customer service.”
VMLA will begin service in Mexico approximately six months after it completes a wholesale agreement with one of Mexico’ mobile network operators. "By having our license in hand we expect our discussions with the operators will proceed along at a quicker pace," Wallace said.
VMLA announced in June of this year its plan to become Latin America’s leading MVNO. Since then, the company has made significant progress towards its goal of beginning commercial operations in many countries, beginning in Chile in the first quarter of 2012. Last month VMLA announced that it had received regulatory approval from Chile’s Subsecretaria de Telecomunicaciones and that it had signed an agreement with a mobile network operator. As the Chile operation prepares for commercial launch, VMLA continues to make progress planning its expansion throughout Latin America over the next two years.
“The reaction we are experiencing from operators, regulators, retailers and potential partners across Latin America has been simply amazing. All our contacts are eager to see Virgin products in their markets,” said Peter Macnee, VMLA’s president and chief executive officer.
VMLA will target youth and “young at heart” consumers, positioning itself as a fresh alternative to existing wireless providers through simple, transparent pricing, products and services tailored to its target segments, and world-class customer service.
“We are excited by the opportunity that Mexico’s Ministry of Communications and Transport has given us to expand the Virgin Mobile Latin America brand,” said Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group. “We look forward to offering Mexico's wireless users exciting, customer-focused services and real value for money in the near future.”
VMLA intends to expand the world-class Virgin Mobile brand throughout Latin America, joining a growing network of Virgin Mobile operations in seven countries (Australia, Canada, France, India, South Africa, UK and the USA) serving approximately 15 million mobile subscribers.
It was recently announced VMLA is on track to begin operations in Chile next year.
By Greg Rose. Content Manager. Tweets @greglrose and blogs at greglrose.com
