Roundup: WOM 5G, regulatory agenda, IPv6 and more

WOM

Chile's IT regulator Subtel is considering revoking operator WOM's concession for breaches related to the 5G tender in 2021, although authorities are also monitoring the company's restructuring under the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process underway in Delaware.

Telecommunications undersecretary Claudio Araya told local reporters that WOM's 5G rollout is causing concern, as the process should have been completed in October 2023 but has barely reached 85% of the goal.

As WOM has repeatedly missed deadlines, Subtel is pursuing legal action in Chilean courts to enforce penalties.

Regulatory Agenda

Colombian regulator CRC has updated its 2024-25 plan to incorporate new initiatives and extend the term of existing ones.

Changes include the extension of deadlines for seven projects with the need to deepen analysis, while the national alert regarding the disappearance of minors will be updated and measures for audiovisual information pluralism and phase two of mobile regulations will be incorporated.

Mobile regulation will take into account the announcements of a possible business integration by Millicom and Telefónica, as well as the reorganization of WOM.

The plan said that these moves "demand that the CRC carry out additional analyses on the impact that these possible operations could have on this relevant market and on some of the proposed measures, such as those related to the joint sale of communications services, the economic replicability of offers made by mobile network operators and customer recovery practices."

IPv6

Brazilian regulator Anatel has approved an action plan to promote the IPv6 internet protocol.

Currently, Brazil has a 50% IPv6 adoption rate and is second globally, behind Uruguay, in using the protocol, but Anatel found adoption has stagnated among small operators. The plan focuses on this segment and aims to promote collaboration with content providers to guarantee security and expand IPv6 support for telecoms equipment through certificates.

Spectrum

Four Colombian companies will receive concessions to use the HF, VHF and UHF spectrum bands as part of a weekly process carried out by the ICT ministry.

The companies focus on transport and security services in the cities of La Ceja (Antioquia deparment), Piedecuesta (Santander), Bogotá and Cartagena. They are cooperatives Cootransoriente and Coovig CTa, SJ Seguridad Privada and Sociedad Portuaria Puerto Bahía.

The final allocation report can be seen here.