IBW plans MVNO

Pan-Central American WiMAX operator IBW Group has entered into negotiations with mobile network operators to launch as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), TeleGeography CommsUpdate reported.

IBW has operations in Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Costa Rica.

While little has been reported about IBW’s wireless plans, the company announced a partnership last year with U.S.-based vendor Alepo to provide a LTE-ready Online Charging System (OCS).

The move will enable IBW to make the transition to LTE in the future, although the company has not indicated any plans to do so.

Nicaragua, which has two wireless players – Claro and Movistar – is a tempting market for IBW, as would Costa Rica, which opened up to competition last year, when concessions were awarded to Spain’s Telefonica and Mexico’s America Movil (AM).