After tapping Chile as its initial launch market market for mobile virtual network operator services in Latin America, Virgin Mobile Latin America has received regulatory approval from Mexico’s Ministry of Communications and Transportation to provide wireless communications in Mexico as a mobile virtual network operator.
The company said it will begin service in Mexico in about six months after it completes a wholesale agreement with one of Mexico’s mobile network operators. The next step is to set discussions with the operators, which might proceed at a quicker pace, Virgin Mobile Latin America said.
In June, U.K.-based Virgin Group announced plans to launch a Virgin-branded MVNO service in Latin America in partnership with Tribe Mobile. In October, Virgin Mobile signed an agreement with Telefónica’s Movistar in Chile, with a launch set for the first quarter of next year.
In a recent interview with RCR Wireless News, Peter Macnee, president and CEO for Virgin Mobile Latin America, said the company was also looking at expanding services to other countries in the region. However, at that time he said that Mexico, as well as Brazil, could be the latest countries where Virgin Mobile could start operate. “It is hard to exactly determine the time, because we are in negotiations with MNOs, but the next countries probably are Colombia and Argentina, then Brazil and Mexico,” Macnee said.
VMLA said it will target youth and “young at heart” consumers, positioning itself as a fresh alternative to existing wireless providers. The company intends to expand the Virgin Mobile brand throughout Latin America, joining a growing network of Virgin Mobile operations in seven countries (Australia, Canada, France, India, South Africa, U.K. and the U.S.) serving 15 million mobile subscribers.
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