guardian.co.uk, UK -
Mexico's Slim unfazed by telco license renewals
Reuters,
May 15 2008 * Willing to pay to renew operating concessions
* Seeks business in all of Latin America
* Interested in Costa Rica
By Chris Aspin
MEXICO CITY, May 15 (Reuters) - Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos Slim
said on Thursday he was willing to negotiate and pay to renew
operating concessions across Latin America after one of his firms was
forced to shell out $480 million to stay in Ecuador.
Slim, one of the world's richest men, told Reuters in an interview
that his mobile phone firm America Movil would continue to seek to do
business in all corners of Latin America, where it is the regional
leader.
"Some things are on sale and you have to buy them. Licenses go on sale
and you have to renew the license," Slim said just over a week after
Ecuador's leftist government forced America Movil to pay $480 million
or leave the Andean nation.