Telecom Argentina has proposed that Metrotel, an operator specializing in fiber-optic networks, acquire certain fixed infrastructure assets from Telefónica Móviles Argentina as part of the measures proposed to obtain regulatory approval for the acquisition of Movistar in the country.
The transaction is part of Telecom’s acquisition of Telefónica Móviles Argentina, announced in February 2025 for US$1.245 billion. The transaction gave Telecom control of Telefónica’s businesses in Argentina, including the operations of Movistar and Tuenti, but final approval by the competition authorities is still pending.
The proposal now being submitted calls for the transfer of certain network assets to Metrotel, a company backed by Riverwood Capital and Blackstone. The goal is to mitigate potential competitive effects resulting from the concentration of two major telecommunications operators in the Argentine market.
The move is particularly significant for the country’s connectivity infrastructure. Telefónica Argentina operates fixed broadband and fiber-optic networks, as well as infrastructure used to provide wholesale connectivity services, data transport, and network leasing.
The National Commission for the Defense of Competition’s (CNDC) own documentation identifies these markets as part of both companies’ activities. Both Telecom and Telefónica operate in corporate services, data centers, and wholesale markets, in addition to providing connectivity to other telecommunications companies through data transport and infrastructure leasing.
