If DirecTV fails to act on acquisition and...

If DirecTV fails to act on acquisition and partnership opportunities in Latin America this year, its options might be limited in the future, a BTIG Research analyst said. Brazil’s TIM and Global Village Telecom, and Virginia-based NII Holdings, “are all likely up for sale and could jumpstart DirecTV’s broadband offering at a critical time in the global communications industry,” said wireless analyst Walter Piecyk in a BTIG blog post (http://bit.ly/1cLgh2W). In Latin America, wireless networks will play a more important role in enabling broadband because the wired infrastructure isn’t robust, he said. Fixed broadband penetration is 33 percent in Brazil, “but it’s still higher than pay-TV penetration of 28 percent,” he said: “This presents a risk and opportunity for DirecTV.” The DBS company doesn’t offer broadband in the U.S., but that strategy might get more focus after Verizon completes the acquisition of Vodafone’s stake in Verizon Wireless, he said. Verizon will pay Vodafone $130 billion for its interest in Verizon Wireless (CD Sept 4 p1). This could be “the beginning of a stronger push into integrated service offerings by Verizon,” Piecyk said.