- Nineteen prisoners use cutlery to break out of cells at Winchester prison
- France wants progress in Ukraine before Russia returns to G7
- Italy president begins talks to seek way out of government crisis
- Italian PM expected to resign as political chaos deepens
- Russia says US cruise missile test ‘regrettable’
- Kremlin - No date set for Normandy talks on Ukraine despite Macron meeting
- Egypt court hands out 6 death sentences on terror charges
- Putin says Russian nuclear explosion poses no threat
- Russian panel eyes alleged foreign interference in protests
- Gran Canaria wildfire triggers evacuation of thousands of people
- PM Johnson calls on Germany and France to compromise on Brexit
- Sudan's ex-president Bashir arrives at corruption trial
TEHRAN, June 18 -Billionaire Carlos Slim has had harsh words for Mexico’s presidential frontrunner, saying recently he is “concerned and afraid” about what leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador might do if elected.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) -Billionaire Carlos Slim has had harsh words for Mexico’s presidential frontrunner, saying recently he is “concerned and afraid” about what leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador might do if elected.
But a victory by Lopez Obrador, who holds a double-digit lead in most polls before the July 1 vote, could provide upside for Slim’s fortunes, particularly with regard to his America Movil (AMXL.MX) telecommunications empire, Reuters interviews with a dozen close friends, partners and other people familiar with their dealings show.
Lopez Obrador’s pick for telecoms minister, Javier Jimenez, told Reuters he favors re-examining some regulations stemming from Mexico’s landmark 2014 telecommunications reform, a law that has clipped America Movil’s profits and inhibited its expansion.
That is because Slim’s company, which possesses the largest network in Mexico, could play a key role in delivering cell coverage to rural areas but complains current regulations hold it back.
Lopez Obrador has championed better connectivity for the nation’s impoverished farmers and indigenous people, who are some of his strongest supporters.
“We have to define a policy so that within six years there is the possibility of 5G across the whole country,” said Jimenez, who went to college with Slim and has known him for some 60 years. He emphasized that all players would be invited to take part.
Jimenez said such a shift could include reviewing criteria for evaluating “preponderance.” That concept in the telecoms law triggers tougher regulation for players with more than 50 percent market share. America Movil still accounts for more than 60 percent of Mexico’s fixed lines and mobile users.
America Movil executives have complained publicly the company is hamstrung from entering underserved areas because that would only increase its market share, prolonging antitrust scrutiny.
Jimenez said the country’s reform is behind on its mandate to expand access. He said a Lopez Obrador administration would not seek to modify the overall reform, which created an independent regulator, but would conduct a review of secondary regulations to ensure competition is not coming at the expense of coverage.
“There shouldn’t be competition for competition’s sake,” Jimenez said. “Competition is an element, a tool, that permits a larger goal, which is better attention to the user.”
There could be even more good news for Slim.
Jimenez and another Lopez Obrador adviser, telecoms veteran Abel Hibert, said they were open to the idea of granting America Movil a television license, a sector the company has long been denied entry because of its size and influence.
Such a move would be up to regulators. But if it came to pass, it would allow America Movil to achieve its dream of offering customers phone service, internet and video in one package, and, Jimenez said, could help serve far-flung consumers.
Changes to Mexico’s telecoms landscape would come with high stakes. The reform, which required a constitutional amendment, enjoys broad public support. Rates fell, service improved and consumers have more choices. U.S.-based AT&T Inc (T.N) invested heavily to grab a share of a market with an estimated 114 million cell subscriptions.
Many are wary of softening measures against Slim, whose company has waged numerous court battles to stymie the legislation and maintain its power.
“If we let down our guard, America Movil will only get stronger,” said Senator Gerardo Flores, whose Partido Verde helped pass the reform.
A spokesman for America Movil declined to comment, as did a spokeswoman for Lopez Obrador.
A PRAGMATIC RELATIONSHIP
The prospect of Lopez Obrador, a social activist and economic nationalist, as president has spooked some leading Mexican businesspeople.
Yet pragmatism has marked the relationship between the austere politician and Slim, Mexico’s richest man.
The pair tussled recently over a proposed $13-billion airport for Mexico City. Lopez Obrador decried it as a waste of taxpayers’ money. Slim called a rare press conference to defend the project, for which his construction companies hold lucrative contracts.
But the controversy faded quickly. Lopez Obrador subsequently said that, if elected, he would consider allowing the private sector to finance the airport, alleviating the need for public money - a solution Slim himself had proposed.
Source: Reuters
Your Comment