Foreigners in line for Brazil cable licenses

Acom Comunicacoes snags 7, to invest $20 mil

By MARCELO CAJUEIRO

RIO DE JANEIRO -- The latest round of cable licensing in Brazil has favored more foreign investors.

Acom Comunicacoes, controlled by Argentine fund Hudson Investment, is in line to receive seven of 20 new MMDS (wireless cable) licenses. Including the two licenses it already owns, Acom plans to invest some $20 million in startup.

Alliances that include Convergence Communications of Salt Lake City and Bolivia-based Multivision are the other foreign winners, gaining licenses to Ara-caju and Cuiaba/Campo Grande, respectively.