ICE agencies and cell phone vendors were swamped yesterday and today as the new network was officially received at 7 pm Monday by ICE officials. 250,000 lines went on sale in 800 official distribution points nationwide.  Almost every store, agency and booth had lines of people outside.   Another 350,000 lines will be available by the end of January. 

The frenzy is due to people believing that if they don’t get their line right away, it will go to someone else, even though ICE has said that only the first 250,000 numbers on the waiting list will be fulfilled now.   There are 2 more contracts for lines open currently. Bids will be taken by the ICE on a network of 400,000 lines and another of 600,000.  The ICE president, Pablo Cob said that depending on demand, the board of directors may increase the licitation by 200,000 lines and 300,000 lines respectively, for a total of 1.5 million.