radio spectrum regulation

Mintic consulted on rules to award up to 175 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz, 1900 MHz and 2.5 GHz bands. Mintic published the same procedure in October 2019, but only one operator showed interested to participate and the procedure was cancelled. The new proposed rules will publish the reserve price before the award. The licences will have a 20-year term and include coverage obligations in unserved areas for bidders winning 700 MHz spectrum.

The Secretariat advising the Argentinian government on ICT issues, is consulting on the secondary and shared use of spectrum in the 470–698 MHz band. The consultation includes the possible use of white space devices (WSD), to provide fixed broadband services in rural and remote areas.

The Salvadorian regulator, Siget, announced the award of 120 MHz of spectrum in AWS spectrum band. The proposed reserve price per each 2x5 MHz block is US$6.25m. Licences will have national scope and a 20-year term.

The Peruvian Ministry of Transport and Communications, MTC, issued several rules towards the implementation of 5G in the country. The rules include the identification and channeling of the entire 500 MHz of the 3.3–3.8 GHz spectrum band, a higher spectrum cap for 1–6 GHz spectrum bands and the rearrangement of the 3.4–3.6 GHz sub-band.

The Argentinian telecoms regulator, Enacom, approved a resolution to control increases in interconnection charges and to reduce monthly spectrum fees for fixed and mobile telecoms operators. The new resolution set: an exchange rate cap to calculate termination rates in Argentinian pesos and new formulas to reduce monthly spectrum fees by approximately 25%.

The US regulator, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is consulting on proposed auction rules to license 70 MHz of spectrum in the 3550-3650 MHz band. The auction is scheduled to start on 25 June 2020.