The Panama operation, now part of Millicom’s cable operator in the country, Cable Onda, brings 1.6 million new mobile customers to the group, with a 4G network accessible to 80% of the population.
The deal is part of a three-part acquisition, valued at €1.45 billion announced in February and it is the second to be completed.
Millicom closed the €379 million acquisition of Telefoníca Celular de Nicaragua in May. The third acquisition, of Telefónica Costa Rica for €503 million, is still progressing.
In January Telefónica agreed the sale of its Telefónica Móviles Guatemala and Telefónica Móviles El Salvador operations to Mexican group América Móvil for €570 million. With these deals, worth a total of €2 billion, “Telefónica completes the sale of all its operations in central America”, said the Spanish company.
Millicom, Swedish owned and based in Luxembourg, said the Panama transaction accelerates its “fixed-mobile convergence strategy and helps consolidate the company’s leadership position in central America”.
It said Panama is a “rapidly growing investment-grade economy” that means “Millicom further diversifies and balances its geographic footprint in its mission to build digital highways that connect more people and develop communities throughout the region”.
