Significant regulatory developments have taken place in Latin America (LATAM) in the past three months, affecting in particular spectrum and satellite policies, regulation on wholesale and community networks, and data traffic measures.

Argentina reduced the spectrum cap across 5G bands from 200 MHz to 150 MHz and allowed a private radio service for a mining project. Peru launched a special mechanism to assign and reorder the 3.5 GHz band for public telecoms services using 5G. 

Argentina also reduced the bandwidth of mobile satellite services using the 2 GHz band. Brazil authorised additional Starlink satellites within its territory, while Chile modified spectrum allocation to enable satellite direct-to-device connectivity.

Colombia reviewed its wholesale carrier market regulation to promote high-quality carrier services for internet service providers, while Peru deregulated the fixed wholesale broadband access market.

Chile consulted on a regulation to let user communities provide internet access services, while Colombia introduced measures to facilitate the provision of community fixed internet services in remote and rural areas.

Brazil proposed traffic management policies for large online platforms. In Colombia, the Constitutional Court declared zero-rating illegal because it violates the principle of net neutrality.

Other news from the region included Chile and Google’s joint venture to deploy the first submarine cable across the South Pacific, and the Mexican Senate approving the legislative proposal for a new federal telecoms law.

Cullen International’s latest 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.

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