The cell phone service will remain in force in Ecuador, without risk of suspension

Arcotel press release

This is an automated translation of the press release issued in Spanish

The Telecommunications Regulation and Control Agency (Arcotel) informs the public that the telecommunications service will remain in force, uninterrupted, without prejudice to the contractual terms with the telephone operators, while the renegotiation process progresses; in compliance with articles 314 of the Constitution and 4 of the Telecommunications Law.

At this time, the renegotiation is suspended to ensure the best conditions for the provision of services for the benefit of users, and the incidence of these aspects in the assessment, as well as in the management of authorizations and reports relevant to these issues.

Arcotel has managed the participation of multilateral organizations and a citizen oversight of the process, in order to have technical advice and compliance in favor of transparency: United Nations (UN-ITU); Development Bank of Latin America (CAF); Study Center for the Development of Telecommunications and Access to the Information Society in Latin America (CERTAL); and, the citizen oversight qualified by the Council for Citizen Participation and Social Control (CPCCS).

The renegotiation is not only about the valuation of the spectrum, but the comprehensive valuation of the concession that contains other fundamental elements:

1. Quality of services.
2. Technologies and investments to be implemented and their deadlines.
3. Social benefits that will be granted to citizens.
4. Expansion of geographic coverage.
5. Technology for national security.
6. Amounts that must be paid to the State for the business that represents the exploitation of the service.

These points have an impact on the economic valuation, which this Government, in a responsible manner, has decided to carry out, understanding that a negotiation of this level requires a reasonable amount of time to achieve its objectives.