Honduras’ state-owned telco Hondutel has extended the tender for its proposed sale of a 49% stake in its mobile joint venture Ehmovitel – Movitelh (Empresa Hondurena de Telefonia Movil) until 25 January El Heraldo reports citing the carrier’s CEO Romeo Vasquez as saying. Tender bids were originally due on 2 January, with the highest bidder being required to provide a USD5 million guarantee. According to Vasquez, no fewer than 13 different companies have already purchased the tender documents for a fee of HNL10,000 (USD500).
The firms lining up are thought to include Fideco-Datang Mobile (Guatemala), Datang Mobile (China), LR (Israel), and Rhino (US). Hondutel’s newly formed cellular subsidiary will offer services in the 1900MHz band and will comprise the smaller mobile units it established between 2006 and 2009, namely: Tegucel, Sulacel, Olanchocel, Copancel, Cholucel and Ceibacel. The units collectively have more than 100,000 mobile users who will be transferred to Ehmovitel – Movitelh upon completion of the deal. Vasquez has said that his firm is looking to undertake a number of projects in 2013 to develop the company, as part of a USD50 million development fund. Although he declined to divulge specifics, it is understood that mobile broadband is seen as core to helping underpin Hondutel’s fortunes in the years ahead.