Q&A: Gabriel Holgado, SVP of wholesale services, Latin America, Level 3 Communications

Q&A: Gabriel Holgado, SVP of wholesale services, Latin America, Level 3 Communications

Capacity Latam 2015: Level 3's SVP of wholesale services in Latin America, Gabriel Holgado, talks to Capacity about its operations in Latin America, and reiterates its commitment to the region.

What are your strategic priorities in Latin America for 2015?

In 2015 Level 3 will continue our ongoing investment in technology, innovation and expansion to support corporate, government and carrier customers’ growing demand for global connectivity and reliability.

We are doing this by expanding the already robust local, national and fibre networks across the region. The Colombia landing of our subsea network on the Pacific coast in Q1 2015, for example, will provide unique physical diversity from all Caribbean cable systems

We will also expand our metro access and backbone in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama – and we continue to grow our presence in other countries.

 

What major trends do you see occurring in the Latin American market this year?

The main trends we see in the market include the growth of internet of things (IoT), demand for mobile services, including data and video, growth of broadband, and the increasing need for security services.  

The internet of things (IoT) continues to grow exponentially, creating a demand for increasing connections, efficiency, innovation and access to data. Level 3 is leveraging its global connectivity and robust network to support innovation and development in this ever changing landscape. The deployment of 4G and LTE in many countries in Latin America are driving increasing demand for data connectivity and video traffic.

We also anticipate an increase in high-speed broadband, given the rise in video and voice streaming services. Security concerns in recent years continues to grow in importance both for corporate and individual users. Level 3 is well positioned to address and prevent vulnerabilities, with a knowledgeable team and robust network to support security planning for all customers.  

 

What do you hope to achieve by attending Capacity Latam 2015?

This event continues to be an important event for Level 3, giving us the opportunity to share our capabilities and engage in strategic discussions with current customers and potential new partners. 

We value the chance to listen to our customers and work to support changing requirements. This event is also an important forum to share ideas with regional and global peers about trends and topics in Latin America.   

 

What are some of the challenges of operating in the Latam market?

The Latam region represents several vibrant economies that are showing great promise regarding growth in their communications needs. 

Some challenges include the lack of bandwidth availability, inadequate fixed-line infrastructure and areas with limited access to telecommunications services. 

Governments have taken a strong role in developing national broadband projects into remote and rural areas to support expected population and economic growth. 

The region continues with new opportunities for growth and expansion through innovation and collaboration. Level 3 continues to be committed to the Latin American region through continual and significant investments in our infrastructure, core network services and talent resources.

Level 3 has a positive outlook for Latin America in 2015 and is confident in the long-term success of this region.

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