The government aims to update the $6 a year license for concessionaires of radio and television frequencies which has been in effect since 1954, while employers fear a reallocation of spectrum.
The draft bill proposes an increase in the rates for radio and television based on the number of frequencies held by the concessionaire, the type of coverage, the use to be given and the type of diffusion, national or rural.
Up until December 26th public consultation will be carried out on the national telecommunications plan 2015-2021 proposed by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Telecommunications.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Telecommunications (MICITT):
The Ministry of Science, Technology and Telecommunications (MICITT), pursuant to the provisions of the regulations governing the telecommunications sector, reports that the proposed National Development Telecommunications Plan 2015-2021 (PNDT) is under Public Consultation.
The government has confirmed that the auction of the remaining 70 MHz of spectrum in 2015 will be only among the three current telecommunications operators.
In the end the Ministry of Science, Technology and Telecommunications (Micitt) announced that the auction of radio spectrum of 70MHz in early 2015, which aims to strengthen the current market, will be launched without the involvement of a fourth operator, as was originally considered.
Although in Costa Rica the convenience of the de-monopolization of the communications has been demonstrated, there is still resistance on the part of the government to allowing more operators to enter the market.
The market entry of a fourth mobile phone operator and thickening of the offer with 40Mhz are the two factors that are being studied before a call is made for bids which had been scheduled for the first months of 2015.
español
5245
