FNet, IDM Join Forces on Internet Services

FNet Corp., a subsidiary of Franklin Telecom in Westlake Village, has entered into a joint-venture contract with IDM Satellite Division in Chula Vista to provide Internet services in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.

Terms of the contract call for FNet to provide the hardware and network resources, while IDM will be responsible for in-country licensing, marketing and satellite transmission. Licensing is already in place in Guatemala. Final approval is expected shortly in El Salvador and Honduras.

“We are delighted that our partnership with IDM Satellite will facilitate our immediate entry into Latin America,” said FNet president Kevin Kuykendall. “This is consistent with our strategy for using joint ventures along with acquisitions to accommodate the roll-out of our next-generation telephone network.”

Kuykendall said the IDM contract gives FNet an increase in its minutes-per-month capacity. FNet is negotiating with IDM to include additional countries.