In the country’s latest initiative to improve fixed line connectivity for its population, Argentinian telecommunications regulator Enacom has approved funding for a programme to provide broadband internet in houses built and financed by the state.

Another private network has been launched in Brazil with the announcement from communications and IT services provider Speedcast that it has deployed advanced connectivity via a private LTE network powered by Nokia for a Brazilian energy integrator.

Amazon has announced plans for its Mexico cloud unit to open a local zone early next year in what is, by many accounts, a fast-growing cloud services market in that country.

Following the recent announcement that Nokia and AT&T Mexico have deployed what they call the first industrial-grade LTE private network in a maritime terminal in the country, there’s been another private network announcement in Latin America – this time in Brazil and using 5G.

A deal that was close to being done and dusted months ago may face a new period of uncertainty, with Brazilian operators TIM, Vivo and Claro apparently requesting a reduction in the price they are expected to pay for the mobile division of beleaguered telecommunications company Oi.

Brazil-based company Neko had its 5G licence waivered after the company requested to vacate its holdings of airwaves in the 26GHz band.

Satcoms giant Hughes has again been involved in deals that will deliver remote connectivity, this time in both India and Costa Rica.

There may be more regulatory issues for the online giants to deal with, this time in Mexico where Google and Apple have been the target of accusations of uncompetitive behaviour.

Brazilian newcomer Winity Telecom has signed a six-year deal with Amdocs to support its deployment of 4G and 5G networks across remote rural areas of Brazil.

A long-running dispute over unused spectrum in and around the 3500MHz band in Costa Rica appears to be at an end after an agreement this week between the government and the state utility that owned the spectrum.

Telefonica Moviles (Movistar) has commenced its rollout of a 5G-ready network in El Salvador.

A spectrum auction in Guatemala in the mid-2.5GHZ band, delayed for a number of years, is, apparently, set to go ahead.

BICS, an international connectivity enabler, and satellite-direct-to-phone telecoms company Lynk Global, have signed an agreement to enable mobile network operators (MNOs) to expand mobile coverage to people in remote areas around the world.

Smartphone shipments for Latin America declined 2.5% year-on-year to 32.2 million units in Q2 but proved to be a bright spot as the global smartphone market collectively dropped 9%.

Argentina’s sell-off of unused 4G spectrum in the 2600MHz band has raised US$27.7 million for the country’s National Communications Agency ENACOM (Ente Nacional de Comunicaciones).

Mexican operator Telmex offered union workers a new deal that bolsters retirement packages in an attempt to smooth relations with striking workers.

The private network concept isn’t waiting for 5G, as Nokia and AT&T Mexico have just shown by deploying what they call the first industrial-grade LTE private network in a maritime terminal in the country.

Nokia has entered a strategic alliance with network cabling firm Furukawa Electric that will see the partners accelerate optical LAN deployments in Latin America.

American Tower Corporation and IHS Holding are reportedly in the running for Brazilian operator Oi’s tower assets, competing against rival Highline which has already submitted a binding proposal.

North International Bank (NIBank) has gone live with Temenos to digitally transform its retail banking and private wealth business lines.

Data centre company Ascenty, which has a strong presence in Latin America, has announced the opening of its second facility in Santiago, Chile. This is said to be its largest operation site in the country.

A third of Mexican households have no internet access, something the Mexican president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, is keen to change with a massive proposed investment in internet connectivity.

Argentinian regulator Enacom has granted authorisation to Google to carry out the installation of its Firmina fibre optic cable in Argentine territorial waters.

The long-awaited spin-off of its Latin America cellular tower business by the giant Mexico-headquartered operator America Movil has finally been completed.

Internet para Todos (IPT) has expanded its contract with Gilat for 4G cellular backhaul services in Peru.

NK 108 Empreendimentos e Participacoes (NK 108) has made a binding offer to acquire 8,000 fixed telecoms infrastructure sites from Brazil’s Oi.

Omnichannel messaging services provider Mitto has now attained direct connectivity with all mobile network operators in Argentina following the announcement of its partnership with CATEL’s MVNO imowi.

Two of the partners in what is described as the first subsea cable connecting Latin America with APAC and Oceania have issued a request for proposals (RFP) to begin construction of the estimated 15,000-kilometre Humboldt Cable.

Claro, the second – and only other – network in Guatemala after Tigo, has claimed a 5G launch not long after its rival. This week it has launched 5G operations with initial coverage in parts of all of Guatemala's 22 departments (or administrative divisions).

Mexican operator Telmex is the latest company to face industrial action from staff, marking the first strike since 1985 after the company and trade union STRM (Sindicato de Telefonistas de la Republica) failed to agree on terms.

International service provider Sparkle has added another submarine cable to its assets in the Atlantic with the activation of spectrum capacity on the Monet submarine cable system connecting Brazil to the United States.

Latin American data centre deals have been in the news recently thanks to a major acquisition in Ecuador and two facility openings in Mexico.