After having announced last May, investments for US$394 million for this year, Movistar Venezuela has communicated that more than 22 districts from the country are being connected to the 3G network. Tasks started in June and will be completed by next August and will enable to take third generation coverage from current 75% to 92% as of close of 2010.

In May, Juan Abellán, President of Movistar Venezuela, ratified that the investment plan destined to install 1,600 radio bases of GSM/UMTS/HSDPA technology with the aim of reaching a 98% national coverage of the whole populations of the country by 2011. But works started last June, when the populations of Sanare, Turén, Yaritagua, Tacarigua de la Laguna, Carora, Río Caribe, El Junquito and Nirgua were connected to Movistar’s 3G network, will be completed ahead of schedule.

During July, the company added the inhabitants of Carayaca, Pueblo Llano, El Piñal, Monay, Santa Bárbara del Zulia and El Cercado to the platform; and in August, they are planning to incorporate the regions of Caucagua, Pampanito, La Pica, Mendoza Fría, Zaraza, Betijoque, Mariara and Naiguatá to Movistar’s 3G network. “This enlargement plan will result in Movistar reaching 92% coverage with 3G by the end of 2010,” stated the company in a release. Thus, the 98% coverage promised by Abellán for the end of 2011 with the new generation network is almost complete.

This network expansion will cover 7.2 million customers, which will also be addressed with a products and service offer.

Since the launching of the 3G network in 2008 in Great Caracas, Movistar has already installed more than 900 3G cells in the national territory and more than 1,500 GSM cells. Movistar’s network growth has exceeded the 40% so far this year.