Mexico to Launch State Owned Mobile Network by 2018

Mexico's government on Thursday kick-started a project to launch a state-owned mobile network by 2018, part of a wider effort to support competitors to billionaire Carlos Slim's dominant America Movil.

Mexico's telecoms regulator and the telecommunications and transport ministry (SCT) agreed on terms and conditions for the development of the network in a first step toward launching it, according to a statement from the regulator.

Six telecom equipment makers are carrying out field studies for the public-private project, deputy SCT minister Jose Ignacio Peralta said in the statement.

Telecom equipment makers Alcatel-Lucent and . . .