Roundup: Public procurement, regulatory sandbox and more

Public procurement

Paraguay’s ICT ministry Mitic approved the regulation of public procurement processes.

The regulation will be applicable to ministries, national secretariats and executives of the presidency, as well as corporations with a majority shareholding of the state, and organizations and entities within the scope of the executive branch.

Among the obligations is an authorization process prior to the tender call.

In addition, the centralization of ICT goods and services is foreseen through joint purchasing procedures, a framework agreement, contract acquisition, a national agreement or any other contracting mechanism.

The full resolution is available here.

Sandbox

Watchdog Indotel opened a call to submit proposals for the first regulatory sandbox in the Dominican Republic.

Project proposals may be sent until September 11 to this email: correspondencia@indotel.gob.do.

The regulator will take three months to analyze the proposals and then prepare a results report for the selection of the projects.

The sandbox will allow testing of regulatory changes in a controlled manner with the aim of promoting innovation in the provision of telecommunications networks and services, as well as digital certification services.

Government programs

The US National Telecommunications and Information Administration approved Puerto Rico's Digital Equity Plan, which will provide the island with access to a non-refundable contribution of US$14mn.

The funds will be used to develop, implement and monitor digital equity plans; provide awards to other entities to assist in the development of digital equity plans; improve the online accessibility and inclusion of public resources; implement digital equity plans and digital inclusion activities; provide digital literacy and skills education to covered populations; and facilitate adoption of high-speed internet by covered populations.

Appointment

Nicolás Silva Cortés took over as deputy director of spectrum management and technical planning at Colombian spectrum agency ANE.

The official has more than 20 years of experience in the ICT sector, and was executive director and commissioner of telecom regulator CRC.

Do not disturb

As of April 30, some 304,724 numbers had been included in Uruguay’s ‘do not disturb’ registry. The registry comprises lines whose users have asked not to receive advertising.

In April, 157 complaints were received. Since its entry into force in 2022, the system has received 3,000 complaints.