Elca Telecomunicaciones

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Consorcio Elca was awarded a concession to provide telecommunications services in rural areas known as Region 3 in May 1998. Region 3 includes the states of Amazonas, Anzoategui, Bolivar, Delta, Amacuro, Dependencias Federales, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, and Sucre. The company may provide a range of telecommunications services such as basic local services, payphones, mobile phone services, value-added services, trucking, and other services. The country was divided in three regions to award rural telephone concessions. Two other companies (Infonet Redes de informacion and Corporacion Digitel) were awarded similar concession for the rural areas known as Region 1 and 2. The main sponsor of Consorcio Elca is Venezolana de Telefonia (Cavetel). Conatel, the telecom regulatory agency, did not award any subsidy for rural telecommunications because it considered that the provision of advance services will generate the necessary resources to finance the whole operation. Consorcio Elca C.A. committed to invest, at least, US$54 million during its first five years of operation to serve 1 million inhabitants. In October 2000, DDI Corporation merged with KDD Corporation and IDO Corporation, creating the project's new operator - KDDI. limited information available about the project