After a resolution was issued for the reorganization of the 700 MHz band, Telecomunicaciones de Guatemala S.A. and the Human Rights Ombudsman's Office submitted appeals for revocation to the Superintendence of Telecommunications.
The controversy originated after Comunicaciones Celulares S.A. bought from Albavision in 2019 the usufruct titles that are immersed in the 700Mhz band. This transaction was made in the secondary market.
After the number of users in operation in Guatemala grew 9% between 2016 and 2017, during the period between 2017 and 2018, the increase was only 2%.
According to the statistical bulletin of the Second Semester - 2018, prepared by the Telephony Regulation Management of the Superintendence of Telecommunications (SIT), between 2017 and 2018 the number of users in the country increased by 481,038, going from 19.9 million to 20.4 million.
Between 2016 and 2017, the country registered a 9% increase in the number of lines in operation, rising from 18.2 million to 19.9 million.
According to figures from the Superintendency of Telecommunications (SIT), the number of prepaid mobile phone lines also registered an increase of 9%, rising from 17.2 million in 2016 to 18.8 million at the end of 2017.
The legal obstacles that are preventing the Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones of Guatemala from tendering the AWS frequency may not be solved in the short term.
The Telecommunications Authority has announced that by June it plans to issue tenders for a part of the radio spectrum, specifically for private communication frequencies and UHF links.
Although a date for the changeover has not yet been set, the Telecommunications Authority has presented a preliminary project to define the transition to digital TV.
Harold Cancinos, operations manager at the SIT, told Elperiodico.com.gt that"... The agreement seeks to provide a legal scaffolding for moving frequencies. The mode of granting frequencies, according to law, must be done through leases.But as Cancinos recognizes, this concept 'is objectively holding us back in terms of implementation of the project'."
In response to approval of a new tax of $0.65 per telephone line, operating companies have returned 6 million lines to the Telecommunications Superintendency.
Representatives from Claro, Tigo and Telefónica each returned 2 million inactive numbers with the aim of adjusting their internal policies to adapt to the new tax which will come into effect next year.
In Guatemala and proposals arising from the recently passed amendment to the Communications Act, which extended radio concessions for 20 years.
In light of the act coming into effect, deputies in the Transparency Commission are preparing a bill relating to the issue of transparency, Deputy Carlos Barreda, a member of the panel, said "We must establish that the usufruct be delivered through an auction or implement a public payment for its renewal.
The extension for another 20 years, without any fees, of the concessions for radio frequencies, will deprive the Guatemalan State of millions in income, and removes market transparency.
While in other countries concessions for the use of radio frequencies provide state coffers with many millions of dollars, in Guatemala, Congress has passed legislation extending licenses that are currently in effect for another 20 years, without any costs to the concessionaries, who in addition at the end of the period of usufruct, may renew them again.
If approved, the usufruct of radio, television and telephony frequencies would be extended to 25 years.
The reform of the Telecommunications Act will allow beneficiaries of radio, telephone and television frequencies, who have been given usufruct for 15 years to request an extension to 25 years.
"If the law is passed, the Superintendency of Telecommunications (SIT) 'shall, no later than 15 days after filing the request for extension of the lease, provide the titles for a period of 25 years.'