El Salvador: Sale of Unlocked Cell Phones

A new decree obliges telephone companies operating in the country to deliver the phones that they sell in an unlocked format.

Monday, September 3, 2012

Luis Méndez Menéndez, head of the General Superintendency of Electricity and Telecommunications (SIGET), said "The decision has been made, what is pending is a notice from the Technical Secretariat in order to proceed immediately to the release of bands. We're talking about three weeks at the most. "

This change allows cell phone users to use chips from different phone companies in one device.

Phone companies consulted declined to comment, saying they were unaware of SIGET’s rules.

"Mendez said the release of bands does not need further discussion because it is already covered under the law and is 'The duty of the superintendent'", reported Laprensagrafica.com.

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More on this topic

Users Can Buy Unlocked Cell Phones

October 2012

Amendments to the Telecommunications Act passed by the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador allows mobile phone users to buy unlocked cell phones.

A press release from the Legislative Assembly reads:
With 79 votes from all parliamentary groups, the Legislature approved on Thursday a partial assent and the corresponding decree to reform the Telecommunications Act with regard to unlocking phones free of charge to users.

Number Portability in El Salvador Not Before 2012

August 2010

It will take at least 18 months to get the project operational that will enable people to keep their telephone number when they change providers.

Luis Méndez, head of El Salvador's electricity and telecommunications regulator (Siget), stated that, "we need a year and a half to make number portability operational because in addition to the investment required, companies need to update their equipment and agree a contract with the central administrator that will manage the numbers. To do all this in less than 18 months is practically impossible," reports Laprensagrafica.com.

Mobile Number Portability Delayed in El Salvador

February 2010

The project got stuck, as the priority subject is now the elimination of the basic fee for fixed telephony.

Siget, the Telecommunications Superintendence, had confirmed that the project would be ready for 2011, but its telecommunications manager, Saúl Vásquez, said there is no progress to report.

El Salvador Analyzing Mobile Number Portability

December 2009

SIGET, the Superintendence of Electricity and Telecommunications, could implement it on 2010.

If all goes according to SIGET's plans, users will be able to change phone providers while maintaining their phone numbers within one year.

José Rodríguez, executive president at Digicel El Salvador, stated that his company is willing to implement number portability.

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