CANTV doubles minimum DSL speeds, sees end in sight for fibre backbone rollout

Venezuelan national telco CANTV has doubled the minimum download speeds for consumer on its ‘ABA’ ADSL internet service from 256kbps to 512kbps. In the last 18 months, the company says it has invested VEF115 million (USD26.7 million) on its broadband network, and CANTV president Manuel Fernandez also declared that within another year’s time it will have completed the rollout of 18,000km of fibre-optic backbone infrastructure (including the integration of sections formerly operated by other state-owned entities), thereby reaching ‘over 90%’ of the population with broadband services. In the announcement published on the telco’s website, CANTV detailed the ongoing work being carried out to extend fibre-optics across the states of Amazonas, Anzoategui, Aragua, Apure, Barinas, Bolivar, Cojedes, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Miranda, Portuguesa, Tachira, Trujillo and Zulia. Regarding investment in the fibre backbone, the overall project to extend the high speed transmission network by 6,000km involves around VEF1.8 billion including funding sourced via regulator Conatel.