PANAMA

摘要

Panama is likely to sell its 49 percent holding in telephone service provider Cable & Wireless Panama SA, which is co-owned by Cable & Wireless PLC. Economic Ministry spokesperson Manuel Naza said that the government is exploring several alternatives and has not yet decided on how to carry out the sale process. In 1997, the UK-based Cable & Wireless PLC became the first overseas company to enter the country s telephony market by buying a 49 percent stake in the state-run Intel SA for $652 million. If the government goes ahead with its decision to sell, then Cable & Wireless PLC can exercise its right to acquire an additional 5 percent stake. Cable & Wireless Panama is the largest telecom operator in Panama and provides Internet, landline, and mobile-phone service. Its mobile user bas has increased to 899,000.