Virgin Mobile enters Ecuador cell market

British-based Virgin Mobile will become the fifth cell service provider in Ecuador, joining Claro, Movistar, Twenti and publicly owned CNT. President Lenin Moreno made the announcement Monday in New York when he met with British entrepreneur Richard Branson.

President Lenin Moreno with Virgin Group President Richard Branson Monday in New York.

Branson said that Virgin Mobile will offer innovative services currently not available in the Ecuadorian market and said public announcements would be forthcoming. “We’re pleased to make our entry into Ecuador,” he said. “We are already operating in Peru and Colombia so this solidifies our position in the region and will allow us to launch new initiatives.”

Although Moreno and Branson did not offer specifics about Virgin’s plans, they said they would expand current technologies in the areas of education and clean energy.

The Virgin Group, headed by Branson, owns more than 400 companies worldwide, concentrating in transportation and technological innovation.

Moreno is in New York to atend the opening of the 74^th session of the United Nations.