Regulator to conduct tender for rural telephony licences

The Brazilian telecoms regulator Anatel intends to hold a licensing tender for voice telephony and broadband internet services in rural parts of the country, Agencia Estado reports citing the communications minister Helio Costa. The tender could take place later this year and will favour telcos that pledge to deliver broadband internet services for rural areas by offering them lower licence fees, the minister said. Costa said the government has set itself a target of providing 100% telephony coverage in rural areas by 2014, adding that it would use the 450MHz frequency for phone services in such areas.