FRANCE TELECOM TO BID FOR TELEBRAS

France Telecom, the world's 4th, and Europe's 2nd telecommunications operator, numbers among the ten leading foreign operators expected to bid for the Brazilian giant Telebras in the context of its forthcoming privatisation. The French operator already has a foothold on the continent following its successes in 1990 in the privatisation of northern sector of Telecom Argentina, and of the Mexican operator Telmex. A consortium made up of the Mexican company Grupo Carso (51%), France Telecom (24.5%) and Southwestern Bell (24,5%) assumed control of Telmex in 1990 and secured a 35 year operating concession. However, France Telecom has thus far been less blessed in Brazil, where its bid last...