Peru’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications has granted the company a carrier license, enabling <ST>PanAmSat Corp. [SPOT]<E> to provide satellite-based Internet and telecommunications services directly to the Peruvian market. The deal continues to solidify the company’s 12-year, nearly $2 billion investment in services for Latin America.

“Since 1989, PanAmSat has offered high-quality video, Internet and telecommunications services to countries throughout Latin America,” said Alvaro Gazzolo, senior vice president for the company’s Atlantic Ocean Region. “This new license will open the door to another major market for PanAmSat, providing numerous advantages to companies that require satellite-based communications services in Peru.”

The license will allow PanAmSat to provide data, Internet and private network voice services in Peru directly to customers. This is a shift within the company’s business model, where before, data services were provided through Telefonica de Peru. In addition, the license also provides PanAmSat the future option of offering switched telephony services throughout the country.

Coverage will be transmitted through PAS 1, PAS 3, PAS 5 and PAS 6 as well as PAS 6B and Galaxy 8I satellites. This year, PanAmSat will deploy two more spacecraft-PAS 1R and PAS 9-as part of the company’s seven-bird expansion and back-up plan.