Slim's newest venture might be Mexico's television market, but the challenges are daunting
By Cyntia Barrera Diaz
Reuters
Regulators have hinted they might give billionaire Carlos Slim the nod to enter the Mexican television market, but the world's richest man will face a long battle before hitting the screens.
Competition and telecom officials recently said they might allow Slim's Telmex, Mexico's top fixed-line phone provider, to offer customers television service.
Mony de Swaan, head of Mexico's telecom regulator Cofetel, told Reuters last week it was "possible and desirable" to give approval to Telmex, which has sought permission to add television to its telephone and Internet services for years. Competition commission Cofeco has voiced a similar stance.
But market watchers think Telmex, a former state-run company that delivers basic telecom services to around 70 percent of Mexican homes, will face plenty of hurdles before it can access the coveted new service.
"It will take time, past 2011," said analyst Gregorio Tomassi of Santander.
