Telefónica exec joins Viasat to drive rural broadband in Brazil

Telefónica exec joins Viasat to drive rural broadband in Brazil

Leandro Gaunszer Viasat.jpg

Satellite company Viasat has hired former Telefónica executive Leandro Gaunszer to head its operations in Brazil, charged with expanding services to the unserved and underserved parts of the country.

California-based Viasat, which has has been operating in Brazil since 2018, uses Telebras’s SGDC-1 satellite to offer high-speed broadband connectivity across 100% of the country.

Gaunszer added: “Viasat's commitment to connect the people of Brazil — from the outer most regions of the country to the most remote, interior communities — is one to be admired. I look forward to making a strategic impact and driving value creation through current and future technologies and business models.”

He spent almost two decades at Telefónica, mainly in São Paulo, following an engineering degree and a spell at Nortel Networks. Most recently he was responsible for developing video products for the group’s Vivo brand, followed by a year as pay TV digital transformation director for Telefónica Latin America, working on satellite, fibre and over-the-top platforms.

Evan Dixon, head of global fixed broadband services at Viasat, said: “Bringing Leandro on board is a critical step in Viasat’s local growth and commitment trajectory, as he will help guide and provide vision for how we continue to expand our Brazilian operations to best serve the people of Brazil.”

 

 

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