radio spectrum regulation

The Ecuadorian Ministry of Telecommunications approved a new spectrum policy for telecommunications and broadcasting services. The new guidelines aim to provide the framework for upcoming spectrum awards.

The Colombian ICT Ministry regulates the conditions to exchange monetary payment of one-off spectrum fees for coverage obligations. The regulation applies from June 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic has produced regional regulatory and policy initiatives in the Americas, and global initiatives from international organisations on information and communications technologies (ICT) to fight the pandemic. These initiatives include public policies, sharing best practices and recommendations to mitigate the economic effects of the emergency, and measures to strengthen the telecommunications sector as an enabler of tele-work, tele-education, e-government, e-commerce and the digital economy.

The Colombian Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies (MinTIC) adopts the roadmap for the modernisation of 2G and 3G networks to 4G. The roadmap foresees new auctions of IMT spectrum in the 700 MHz, 1900 MHz, 2.5 GHz and 3.5 GHz bands before 2022.

Ecuadorian and Peruvian spectrum authorities established specific rules for temporary awards of spectrum to face the increased traffic triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Colombian ICT Ministry (MinTIC) and the national spectrum agency (ANE) are consulting until 23 June 2020 on the spectrum policy workplan for 2020–2024. The proposed policy foresees several measures to improve spectrum management but does not set out deadlines for the award of new spectrum bands.