Roundup: Panama spectrum, Telefónica settles Peru tax, Uruguay digital strategy and more

Panama allocates spectrum for mobile services

Panamanian regulator Asep allocated new spectrum for the development of mobile broadband services in the country.

91MHz of spectrum was identified in the 1.5GHz band, 85MHz in the 2.3GHz band and 3250MHz in the 26MHz band.

Some 176MHz in medium bands and 3250MHz in high bands (millimeter frequencies) will therefore be made available to mobile operators.

Panama hopes to have its first 5G network established this year, although it could start with private networks. The Panama Canal is already testing 5G technology.

Telefónica settles tax payment in Peru

Telefónica del Perú reported that it will pay 1.36bn soles (US$367mn) to tax administration Sunat following the judiciary’s order to pay income tax owed for 2000 and 2001 and interest accumulated in the meantime.

The conclusion of the case finally comes after two decades of dispute, which resulted in 80% of the sum under discussion being comprised of interest and fines.

"Even though Telefónica del Perú is in total disagreement with what was resolved by the judicial branch, in respect for the institutions and legal security it will proceed to make the payment under protest," the company said in a statement.

Digital citizenship strategy presented in Uruguay

Uruguay’s agency for electronic government, information and knowledge society Agesic has presented its digital citizenship strategy for 2024-28, produced with the participation of the public and private sectors, academia, international organizations and civil society.

The document establishes three strategic lines: governance, awareness and development of skills and research.

The strategic objectives include the preparation of documents of recommendations and good practices, a survey of regulations to systematize and transmit existing legal frameworks, development of content and training paths, and update of reference frameworks and research on the subject, among others. 

The strategy can be seen here, in Spanish.

Ecuador consultation on digital policy

Ecuador’s telecommunications ministry has launched a participatory process to improve public policy for the digital transformation of the country.

The public policy document will cover issues of digital transformation, telecommunications, electronic government, simplification of procedures, postal matters and cybersecurity.

More information can be seen here.

New CEO at Digicel

Telecommunications operator Digicel announced that Marcelo Cataldo will be its new CEO effective as of May 1.

Cataldo had been working as CEO and president of Tigo in Colombia since 2016, and also led the operator's ESG strategy.

Maarten Boute, interim CEO following the completion of Digicel restructuring in January, will return to his role as chief operating officer (COO).

Spectrum study

Colombia's national spectrum agency ANE announced that university ICESI has been chosen to conduct the study to determine the methodology used for the reorganization of the radio spectrum in the band from 88MHz to 108MHz.

ICESI’s proposal was rated higher than those from Universidad Javeriana, Universidad de Sucre, Corporación Universidad de la Costa and Universidad del Cauca.

The project has a total budget of 321mn pesos (US$83,000), of which 219mn pesos will be provided by ANE and the rest by ICESI.

Regulatory consultation

After a first consultation period, Colombian ICT ministry Mintic has issued a public consultation on the second draft resolution to establish a compliance methodology for land mobile service coverage.

The project establishes the methodology for the verification of technical milestones related to reference signal power levels by mobile operators that are linked to the obligations acquired in the bidding processes for the assignment and renewal of spectrum.

More information available can be seen here.