Regulatory roundup: Spectrum tenders, concession renewals, semi-public service and more

Spectrum bidding plan 

Brazilian regulator Anatel issued a proposal for spectrum bidding plan for comment and observations. 

The proposal includes tender plans for the short, medium and long term, starting with the 6GHz band tender in 2026. 

Although it is not part of this plan, the regulator is also analyzing a 700MHz tender in 2025. 

In the medium term, there are plans to auction the 900MHz, 1,800MHz, 1,500MHz, 1,900MHz (TDD) and 4,900MHz bands.

“It is a fundamental initiative because it provides predictability for the industry, to plan the development of equipment; for operators to prepare their participation strategies; and also, for the government, so that it can design public policies linked to each of these bands, defining coverage and investment commitments,” said Anatel president Carlos Baigorri.

Concessions renewal 

Panamanian regulator Asep began the process of updating and reviewing type B telecommunication concessions. 

These concessions are for the use of radio frequencies and telecommunications services that do not require public infrastructure deployment 

Panama has 1,438 of these type B concessions, divided into 727 commercial use concessions and 711 personal use concessions. 

The renewals must be requested through the telecommunications administration system Satel.

Public service 

Argentinian regulator Enacom repealed the general regulation for the provision of long-distance semi-public telecommunications services, approved in 1999. 

Enacom’s decision established that these services must be provided through telephone terminals or other public access technologies in localities of between 80 and 500 inhabitants. 

According to Enacom, there are 1,639 long-distance semi-public phones throughout the country. 

Last year, Enacom repealed two other resolutions related to the provision of public telephone services as obligations have become obsolete as demand has fallen.

Roaming 

The Dominican Republic's constitutional court and the superior administrative court decided, in separate rulings, that a resolution from regulator Indotel’s mandating national roaming was legitimate.

In its ruling, the constitutional court rejected the appeal of unconstitutionality presented by Altice Dominicana and Claro against resolution number 070-2023.

This will allow, through freely negotiated agreements, an operator (home network) to use the network of another (visited network) in places where it does not have coverage or its own infrastructure, subject to the conditions of use and payment for accessing that infrastructure.

Public consultation 

Colombian ICT ministry Mintic issued for consultation a draft decree to specify the scope of the regularization of telecommunication networks and infrastructure referred to in a 2015 decree. 

The ministry will receive comments until February 26 at the email address: proyectos.normativos.dicom@mintic.gov.co

More information can be found here. 

Collaboration 

Mintic and the Danish embassy to Colombia signed an MOU to promote joint strategies in connectivity, AI and digital government. 

As part of the agreement, a project to promote connectivity through solutions based on solar energy has started in La Guajira. 

The collaboration also includes the development of electronic portals and services for citizens, taking advantage of technology to reduce bureaucratic procedures and increase transparency.