The president of Argentina, Javier Milei, said Thursday being the target of an alleged “operation” of the Clarín media group for the purchase under investigation of the local subsidiary of the Spanish Telefónica by Telecom, in which the media conglomerate is one of the main shareholders.
When speaking in Buenos Aires in the Latin Economic Forum 2025 event, Milei crossed out the “media operations” against him that has undertaken “that infamous Clarín group.”
“They want to keep an prepo business (with arrogance), they want to keep Telefónica de Prepo. And, as that goes against the competition defense guidelines, they want to submit to folders, lies, slander and insults, all the time,” he said.
On February 24, Telecom Argentina bought the subsidiary of the Spanish Telefónica Group for 1,245 million dollars (1,108 million euros).
The operation is still under evaluation of the National Communications Entity (ENACOM, Telecommunications Regulator) and the National Commission for the Defense of Competition (CNDC), which study the possible configuration of a monopoly in the sector.
Read: ‘We seek to be a power for Malvinenses to prefer to be Argentines’: Milei
Although Telecom Argentina has already completed the payment for the purchase of the Telefónica subsidiary, the integration of both companies has been suspended in a preventive way, in principle for six months, from a resolution adopted on March 25 by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Argentina.
Telecom has as main shareholders Cablevisión Holding (company controlled by the Clarín Media Group) and the Fintech Telecom Fund (controlled by Mexican businessman David Martínez).
Telefónica and Telecom dominate the Argentine telecommunications market since in 1990 the then Government of Carlos Menem privatized the state telephone company and divided into two regions to the country to grant services to these two companies.
According to the government of Javier Milei, the participation resulting from the integration of the two companies would imply a 61% concentration in the mobile telephone market and 69% in fixed telephony, while in residential internet services the concentration could reach 80% in some areas of the country.
Lee: Argentina will lead regional growth in 2025, says the World Bank
The operation has also been objected by two companies in the sector: clear -filial from America Mobile, owned by the Mexican magnate Carlos Slim-, which provides mobile and internet telephone services; and Tecentro, which gives Internet and Television Service
With EFE information
Inspy, discover and share. Follow us and find what you are looking for on our Instagram!
