(In this Sept. 11 story corrects paragraph 2 to provide internet security services instead of provide internet)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Billionaire Carlos Slim’s America Movil and Mexico’s state oil firm have become embroiled in a public fight over a government contract after the telecommunications giant filed complaints and a legal challenge, saying it unfairly lost the bid.
A rival group, including a unit of Mexican broadcaster Grupo Televisa (TLVACPO.MX), won a contract in June for nearly $36 million to provide internet security services to the oil company known as Pemex PEMX.UL.
America Movil (AMXL.MX) had presented a cheaper offer of roughly $24.5 million, a company spokesman said, and went on to file complaints against Pemex.
A Pemex spokesman said on Monday that the company expects to respond in several days but has not set an exact date.
America Movil, Mexico’s largest internet carrier, and Televisa, the country’s biggest broadcaster, have clashed repeatedly in the Mexican market.
An America Movil spokesman said Scitum, a subsidiary of the company’s Telmex unit, began filing complaints in June to Pemex’s internal auditors and audit committee. The company also filed a legal challenge asking that the contract award be suspended while the case is open.
Telmex subsidiary Triara was also part of the America Movil group vying for the contract.
The turmoil was first reported by Mexico’s Milenio newspaper late last month, making public the type of legal disputes over Mexico government contracts that are frequent but rarely rise to public attention.
Pemex Chief Information Officer Rodrigo Becerra said in an interview that he was
