WORLDWIDE MARKET RESEARCH REPORT - CISE

EC/IST FP6 Project No 026920
Work Package: 6
Type of document: Report
Date: 20.12.2007
File name: OP_WP6_D37_V1.0.doc Version: 1.0
Title: Worldwide Market Research Report 74 / 356
Technologies used in Latin American utilities generally follow international standards and
operating procedures common in North America. And growing customer bases require
utilities to adopt larger and more efficient systems.
Thus, leaders of Latin American utilities are beginning to see the benefits of automated
methods of reporting field events. The use of pen and paper is dwindling, and hand-held
computers are becoming widespread.
Utilities’ yearly budgets contain large funds for computer and telecommunications hardware
and software. In this race to obtain the latest and greatest technologies, the need for
guidelines and regulations is significant.
In the computer and telecommunications industries, data and protocols typically are based
on U.S. standards. Though in metering, utilities follow various models: the northern part of
South America uses U.S. types of systems, but the southern region uses European-style
systems. Brazil has its own protocols, perhaps slanted toward Europe, but with numerous
distinctions.
Governments’ interest in advanced technologies is prompted by citizens’ eagerness to enter
the high-tech world. Latin America has more than 6 million Internet users – more than the
Middle East and Africa combined and about one half of all of Asia. And the number of
subscribers is growing exponentially.
A perception of local political instability is probably the single most influential factor keeping
many foreign investors from entering the Latin American utility market. By nature,
investments in utility infrastructures must be long term.
Another complicating factor is that Latin American governments historically have viewed
infrastructures as national assets, so making these infrastructures independent was
considered too economically risky. But the move toward privatization makes this mind-set
obsolete.
5.1.5.1.13 Service Providers
The following table shows the main AMR service providers for utilities, the used network
technology and the country.