SKY Brazil, a subsidiary of Latin American satellite TV provider DIRECTV, has snapped up local multichannel multipoint distribution service (MMDS) operator Acom, BNamericas reports citing a statement from SKY. No financial details were disclosed on the transaction which forms part of the operator’s plan to strengthen its nascent 4G wireless service, launched in Brazil last month. As reported by CommsUpdate, on 14 December SKY Brazil launched a 4G wireless broadband service in Brasilia, with plans to roll it out to other Brazilian cities this year. The fledgling service utilises TD-LTE technology and promises to deliver consumers high speed broadband access to the internet. At launch SKY Brazil’s metropolitan footprint in Brasilia spans a number of neighbourhoods that are currently underserved when it comes to advanced broadband infrastructure. The equipment for the operator’s new network is being provided by Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN).

Since 2005, MMDS provider Acom has been operating in 14 metropolitan regions under the brand name ‘Jet TV’. As a result of the buyout, SKY Brazil has increased its portfolio to a total of 26 MMDS licences and significantly improved its ability to expand its broadband business. The smaller MMDS operator’s concessions cover the metropolitan areas of Manaus, Sao Luis, Teresina, Natal, Joao Pessoa, Maceio, Aracaju, Cuiaba, Campo Grande, Ipatinga, Juiz de Fora, Campos dos Goytacazes, Volta Redonda and Santos. It must be noted though, that SKY Brazil’s bid to horde MMDS frequencies for the later deployment of broadband services has still to be formally approved by the regulator Anatel and the antitrust body Cade.

Source: Telegeograghy