Cullen International’s latest Latin America (LATAM) Telecoms Update highlights policy developments over the past three months affecting the regulation of radio spectrum, wholesale networks and consumer protection in six markets in the region: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.

Argentina allocated the 3.5 GHz band to fixed and mobile services and set the technical conditions for a service to be considered as being 5G. Colombia published an action planfor awarding 5G spectrum, while México allocated new spectrum for commercial wireless services in the AWS, PCS, and millimetre bands, the latter being especially suitable for 5G.

Brazil required mobile operators to offer eSIM profiles to an independent integrator. In Peru, the Ministry of Transport and Communications recommended measures to ensure the continuity of the national fibre backbone network, approved the regulation on national roaming, and allowed Entel and Telefonica to test a multi-operator core network sharing agreement.

Argentina approved new rules for mobile operators to verify the identity of mobile users to avoid fraud, while Brazil established cybersecurity certification requirements for terminal devices used to provide fixed broadband services in consumer premises.

Mexico foresaw the launch of its national infrastructure information system by the end of 2023. Peru postponed the analogue switch-off by two years to 4Q 2024 in Lima and Callao and to a new undecided date for the rest of the country.

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