US data connectivity provider GoldConnect is in talks with investors and analyzing mergers and acquisitions to expand its presence in Latin America.
“We want to be in the mind of the client as the preferred option in connectivity in Latin America. To have more presence, we are in the process of initiating a program of mergers and acquisitions that we had not done before, ”GoldConnect CEO Justo Valladares (pictured) told BNamericas.
According to Valladares, last year’s growth was financed entirely with its own resources.
GoldConnect is present in 17 countries in Latin America, but provides services in more than 40 throughout the Americas through its partners.
“We already have our own footprint in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Venezuela, part of the Caribbean and part of Mexico,” added Valladares.
GoldConnect is talking to financial players to start an “infrastructure project from scratch” in the region. The company focuses on areas surrounding data center projects to create an ecosystem of interconnectivity in its immediate vicinity.
In this way, the company is only considering core network assets and return networks (fiber transport networks). It could be a stake in undersea cables or backhaul terrestrial, said the executive, but mainly with international scope.
“We are also interested in some assets of backhaul local, but we want to be the most solid, fast and reliable infrastructure for the connectivity of the operators in Latin America. “
The company will focus on completing the expansion of fiber optic connections to 20 data centers in Mexico City and the central state of Querétaro by the end of this year.
The project, which started last year with an initial investment of US $ 10mn, is expected to attract the interest of internet players in the OTT segment, corporate clients and large operators, among others.
GoldConnect also recently announced a joint venture with Chilean IT systems integrator Sonda.
Under the terms of the agreement, GoldConnnect will use Sonda’s network of data centers in Latin America, which currently comprises five facilities, while Sonda will use GoldConnect’s network infrastructure for its international connectivity requirements.
GoldConnect is the trademark of Gold Telecom, which spun off from the GoldData group last year. Gold Telecom was founded in 2011.
“We divide only in terms of shared structure. We have a long-term commitment to GoldData. We are co-owners of the network, we are co-owners of the brands – that’s why ‘Gold’ is always present in our brand. We are not the sales division of GoldData. We work together strategically, “said the executive.
The GoldConnect network interconnects 156 points of presence in the region, 71 of which have international capacity (connected via submarine cables), and now around 80 data centers through the agreement with Sonda.
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