Iusacell
Encyclopedia
Grupo Iusacell is Mexico's
#3 mobile operator.
and received more licenses to cover the remaining regions in early 2005. It has more than 3.5 million subscribers (67% are prepaid). The company also offers local and long-distance telephony, messaging services, mobile television and wireless broadband services (BAM) over the only 3G nation-wide network in Mexico.
Group together acquired 74% of the company in 2001 from the Peralta family, which founded Iusacell in 1987. But following Iusacell's default on debts, the two companies in 2003 sold their stake to Ricardo Salinas Pliego's Movil@ccess in a deal valued at $7.4 million.
, but the other major stock holder of Unefon, Grupo Sada, disagreed in the purchase of Iusacell because of the debt and low profit problems. The former controlling shareholders of Grupo Iusacell (BMV: CEL: Latibex: XCEL), Verizon and Vodafone, agreed to tender the entirety of their stock, which resulted in the acquisition of a majority interest by Grupo Salinas.
The new company was born with more than 3.4 million subscribers, equivalent to approximately 7% of the wireless telecommunications market in Mexico. The company has national coverage, and integrates the only two providers of wireless telecommunications services in the country using CDMA technology.
Grupo Iusacell, through its two brands, Iusacell and Unefon, was the first wireless cellular service provider in the country with a third-generation platform (3G CDMA EVDO) that gives users access to a wide range of other telecommunications services and multimedia applications, making the cell phone an efficient vehicle for data transmission and value added services besides voice.
On 15 November 2010 Iusacell Mexico launched their HSPA+ network with speeds up to 21 Mbit/s.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
#3 mobile operator.
Services
The company provides cellular services reaching about 90% of Mexico's population, including Mexico CityMexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
and received more licenses to cover the remaining regions in early 2005. It has more than 3.5 million subscribers (67% are prepaid). The company also offers local and long-distance telephony, messaging services, mobile television and wireless broadband services (BAM) over the only 3G nation-wide network in Mexico.
History
Verizon Communications and VodafoneVodafone
Vodafone Group Plc is a global telecommunications company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest mobile telecommunications company measured by revenues and the world's second-largest measured by subscribers , with around 341 million proportionate subscribers as of...
Group together acquired 74% of the company in 2001 from the Peralta family, which founded Iusacell in 1987. But following Iusacell's default on debts, the two companies in 2003 sold their stake to Ricardo Salinas Pliego's Movil@ccess in a deal valued at $7.4 million.
Movilaccess tender offer
In June 2003 a Movil@ccess (Movilaccess) of Grupo Salinas, extended a tender offer to purchase the control of Grupo Iusacell's stock, by the time Grupo Salinas already own a mobile phone company, UnefonUnefón
Unefón is a Mexican mobile phone operator owned by Iusacell. The company was partially owned by Grupo Salinas and Mexican industrial Grupo Saba, reached more than 2.5 million subscribers in 2006 and its network is CDMA only, using no analog base stations. After a capacity exchange agreement with...
, but the other major stock holder of Unefon, Grupo Sada, disagreed in the purchase of Iusacell because of the debt and low profit problems. The former controlling shareholders of Grupo Iusacell (BMV: CEL: Latibex: XCEL), Verizon and Vodafone, agreed to tender the entirety of their stock, which resulted in the acquisition of a majority interest by Grupo Salinas.
Merger with Unefon
In March 2007, Grupo Iusacell agreed to merge with Unefon Holdings, another company of Grupo Salinas. Unefon Holdings is the holding company owner of the capital stock of Unefon, wireless telephony operator focused on Mexico’s mass market. From the integration process, Grupo Iusacell remains as the merging company and Unefon Holdings as merged.The new company was born with more than 3.4 million subscribers, equivalent to approximately 7% of the wireless telecommunications market in Mexico. The company has national coverage, and integrates the only two providers of wireless telecommunications services in the country using CDMA technology.
Grupo Iusacell, through its two brands, Iusacell and Unefon, was the first wireless cellular service provider in the country with a third-generation platform (3G CDMA EVDO) that gives users access to a wide range of other telecommunications services and multimedia applications, making the cell phone an efficient vehicle for data transmission and value added services besides voice.
On 15 November 2010 Iusacell Mexico launched their HSPA+ network with speeds up to 21 Mbit/s.
External links
- Profile at Grupo SalinasGrupo SalinasGrupo Salinas is a Group formed by several companies focused on many different sectors. Grupo Salinas started as a retail store, but since Ricardo Salinas Pliego, its current President took over the company, Grupo Salinas began to diversify....
- BAM Wireless 3G Broadband