What to expect from regulatory ICT sandboxes in 2022

Latin American countries are increasingly using regulatory sandboxes to enable testing technology, regulations, and business models in a controlled environment and spur innovation.

"The flexibility of that approach can also be valuable in times of crisis as a temporary measure to test innovative connectivity solutions," the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) said in its digital regulation manual.

While Colombia begins the experimentation phase of the first projects, the Dominican Republic plans an ICT sandbox for 2022. Mexico’s IFT mentions a sandbox as a crucial element in its 2021-25 roadmap.

And Chile works on a regulatory sandbox for artificial intelligence. Similar initiatives are also planned in Peru and Brazil. 

And Central American technical commission Comtelca has highlighted the value of sandboxes.

BNamericas reviews the main ICT sandbox plans in the region.

COLOMBIA

Three projects were selected for the experimentation phase of the first telecommunications regulatory sandbox in Latin America.

Regulator CRC selected proposals by Telefónica related to a rural internet project with 4G open RAN coverage and a platform for real measurement of mobile internet service user experiences (SOC Tool).

Tigo's Convergent Contract initiative was also approved for experimentation. It aims to simplify contracting fixed and mobile services through a unified contract.

In the 2021 call, CRC received 23 proposals, of which 78.3% focused on urban areas and 21.7% on rural areas.

Overall, 16 were submitted by communication service providers, three by postal services, two by television companies, and two by content and application providers.

CHILE

In August, the economy ministry launched a call to participate in roundtables discussing the first artificial intelligence sandbox.

Specifically, the proposal, governance model, and regulatory areas will be discussed. Sector representatives and other interest groups are invited.

“We are living in an opportune moment to proactively address the discussion around AI regulation. For this, it is essential to understand the regulatory task does not begin only at the time of drafting legislation, but much earlier, with the collection of evidence, the development of understanding about potential impacts and the exercise of pilots that allow weighing the value tensions and generate social consensus,” the sandbox white paper said.

MEXICO

Regulator IFT's 2021-2025 roadmap includes evaluating measures that optimize radioelectric spectrum for innovative, experimental or social uses, among which it includes the sandbox.

Also, Mexico is considering enabling a sandbox for 5G use case tests and pilots.

And a sandbox is also contemplated for the net neutrality guidelines approved in June.

BRAZIL

In January, Taís Niffinegger, head of regulatory affairs at watchdog Anatel, announced work on a regulatory sandbox inspired by the Colombian model.

Brazil already has a sandbox for the financial and insurance industry.

The ICT sandbox is part of Anatel’s simplification regulation, which must be submitted to public consultation during the first half of 2022.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Regulator Indotel has started public consultation for the 2022 plan, including work with the ITU to simplify and digitize processes and “open an opportunity for innovative projects in the sector, with flexible, delimited and controlled spaces for testing,” according to a presentation.