Shortly after, TV Azteca said it wouldn't allow Mr. Slim's companies to advertise on its network until Telcel lowered the interconnection fee that it charges rivals to connect to its network.

WSJ: Rare Headwinds in Mexico Buffet Slim

The network will provide backhaul to key interconnection points in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

WHITEHOUSE: Don welch, ph.d. | The White House

NTT's network altogether, SpeedNet will avoid having to pay the dominant carrier's interconnection charges, which independent telephone companies reckon amount to a third of their total operating costs.

ECONOMIST: Japanese Telecoms

Last month, after talks broke down between Telmex and the other companies on issues such as interconnection rates (what long-distance providers must pay Telmex to connect calls through its local network), the agency at last said it would step in.

ECONOMIST: Mexico