Wait a minute!

Again, peel off the layers ... (I had to go to Spanish language sources^* to dig up what's going on):

• Ecuador se encamina a la privatización (Ecuador is directed to privatization) [3 de marzo de 2002]

  El COMOSEL anotó que el trabajo inicial de valoración fue realizado por la firma internacional Salomon Smith Barney y que se ubicó en 584.1 millones de dólares.

  In plain English,

  COMOSEL noted that the initial work of valuation was made by the international firm Salomon Smith Barney which placed [the value] at $584.1 million.

• What did they make of that?

  Entretanto, el Colegio de Ingenieros Eléctricos y Electrónicos de Ecuador cuestiona el precio determinado por el COMOSEL, pues considera que la cotización de 751.87 millones de dólares es subvalorada y que no representa ni el 50% de la real.

  In plain English,

  Meanwhile, the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineers of Ecuador questions the price determined by COMOSEL, because it considers that the quotation of $751.87 million is undervalued and that it does not represent even 50% of the real value.

• More background information
• In plain English, Economics is an instrument of policy.