<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt">Orbitel, the long distance operator of Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM), ended  2002 with advances in businesses. At local levels, the company increased its presence in domestic and international long distance segments. Besides, Orbitel also paid special attention to its strategies devoted to address foreign markets: it ventured in Cinco Telecom in the USA, and entered Brazil to offer multimedia communications services. Businesses abroad accounted for 30% of the total corporate revenues.

In Colombia, Orbitel led the international long distance segment (ILD) with a 46.9% share. As regards domestic long distance (DLD), it came second, with 29.5% of the market. In 1999, Orbitel o nly reached a market share of 4.5% in DLD, while Telecom led the segment with 92.8%; and 007 Mundo, the long distance arm of Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Bogotá (ETB), kept the remaining 2%. For 2001, Orbitel had already increased its stake to 16.3%, and 007 Mundo reached 10.8%, while Telecom¿s share was down to 73% of the segment. 

EPM subsidiary successfully started its project with the pre-paid card Cinco, offered in the market in Florida (USA) through its affiliate Cinco Telecom. Juan Guillermo Vélez, international Vice-president in Orbitel, publicly pointed that calls served by the company in the USA soared 600%. According to Vélez, card operations account for 10% of the international corporate sales. Likewise, the company has announced the opening of offices in New York, intended to expand the volume of clients held in the USA.

In addition to the US market, Orbitel entered Brazil. There, it will offer Multimedia Communications Services (MCS), after paying some US$ 2,500 for the authorization issued by the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel). MCS enable audio, video, and data transmission, emission, and reception throughout Brazilian territory.

According to Orbitel, service globalization strategies aim at becoming the media by which Latin communities worldwide communicate with their countries of origin. In total, businesses abroad accounted for US$ 47.4 million, 30% of the total revenues.

Orbitel will invest some US$ 20 million along 2003, mainly in developing international market services, enhancing local transmission networks, integrating IT platforms, and implementing a new billing system.

In 2002, the operator registered sales for US$ 155.4 million, 20% up facing the US$ 125.6 million posted in 2001. Net earnings totaled US$ 11.2 million, 140% up o n the previous year. Orbitel forecasts earnings of around US$ 34 million for this year.