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In the process of encouraging converged services, the Comision Federal de Comunicaciones (COFETAL), Mexico's telecoms regulator, has agreed to the guidelines of interconnection and has instructed Telmex, the leading fixed-line telephone company of Mexico, to allow other operators access to its network.

Established in 1997, Telmex, is one of the leading telecommunication service provider in Latin America with services in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Peru and the United States. The company is committed to offer advanced and comprehensive telecom solutions. With this regulation from COFETAL, Telmex is asked to allow smaller competitors to connect to its network of 18.2 million lines.

"Any telecommunications company ... must interconnect its network with another company that requests a connection," COFETAL said in a statement.

COFTETAL seeks to reform and regulate the development of telecommunication services in Mexico. The move is also aimed at bringing down costs for businesses and households in Mexico.

Interconnectivity is the facility which encourages one network operator to connect with the other which guarantees free competition. Under this, the subscribers of one commercial network are allowed to access the other and they are completely protected from monopoly.

COFETAL is yet to reveal its plan of action, in case Telmex refuses to open up its network.

Mexican telephone and cable television companies will soon be offering "triple play" services, including telephone, television and Internet access via the same connection.

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Meenakshi Shanks is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To see more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.