At the auction held in El Salvador for the 1.7 and 2.1 GHz bands, Tigo was awarded five blocks and Claro was awarded four more.
For the auction held on December 5, the 1.7 and 2.1 GHz bands of the radio spectrum were made available, which is structured in 12 blocks, however, only nine blocks were awarded.
Elmundo.sv reports that "... Siget did not inform how much the revenues from the awarding of these blocks amounted to and indicated that it does not yet have a date for the signing of contracts for the assignment of this segment of the spectrum."
In El Salvador, the 1.7 and 2.1 GHz bands of the radio spectrum will be auctioned on December 5. The spectrum will be structured in 12 blocks of $6.25 million each.
Elmundo.sv reviews that "... The band 1.7 and 2.1 gigahertz (GHz), known as AWS, comprises the radio spectrum blocks 1710-1755 and 2110-2155, its allocation would allow the exploitation of more advanced mobile communications services, the consolidation of the deployment of fourth generation technology (4G) and higher speeds in the transmission of mobile data."
In El Salvador, the Ministry of Economy drafted a bill to regulate the commercialization and importation of devices not compatible with digital television, but the Superintendence of Competition failed to endorse it.
At the end of 2018, the country began its transition to digital television, since the state-owned TV channel Canal 10 began broadcasting the open digital signal, and it was reported that in the next three years it will have to be implemented by private TV stations.
In El Salvador, the state-owned Canal 10 began broadcasting the open digital signal, and in the next three years it should be implemented by private television stations.
The General Superintendence of Electricity and Telecommunications (Siget) reported that the change from analog and satellite transmissions to a digital signal is progressing successfully, as several private providers have conducted successful transmission tests.
Since last October 15th, the electricity rates have reported an increase of 8% with respect to the prices of the previous quarter.
The General Superintendence of Electricity and Telecommunications (Siget) informed that among the variables that have influenced the energy price this quarter are a substantial decrease in rainfall last July and the first weeks of August, which affected the reservoir filling of hydroelectric plants, limiting generation based on this type of resource.
A new regulation is in force that has as one of its purposes to compensate the customer for the poor quality of the connection and to automatically compensate when service failures are prolonged.
The General Superintendency of Electricity and Telecommunications (SIGET) approved the Quality Regulation for Public Telephony and Data Transmission Services, which is intended to improve the service that different companies currently provide.
As of October 15, electricity rates will go down by 4.4% compared to the prices in the previous quarter.
The General Superintendence of Electricity and Telecommunications (Siget) announced that the new electricity tariffs will come into effect from October 15.
In a statement, the Siget explained that "...Thanks to increased generation of renewable energy and imports, prices that went into effect on October 15 will be 4.41% lower than those applied on July 15."
The Siget has announced that it already has a first draft of the analog-to-digital television transition plan, which is in consultation with private sector companies.
Regarding the consultations that are taking place with telecommunications companies, Blanca Soto, head of the Siget, explained to Elmundo.sv that "... They have already had two rounds of talks with private, public, religious and community broadcasting organisations.
"The regulation exercised by the Siget in the retail mobile market discourages investment in infrastructure and the acquisition of larger portions of the spectrum."
Without the regulation of retail prices, the Salvadoran mobile phone market would have incentives for investments with social and economically desirable ends, concludes the study entitled "Analysis of the regulation of retail prices of mobile telephony in El Salvador",prepared by the Center for Studies on Telecommunications in Latin America.
In late January the government will announce the technical standard that the country will adopt and how the transition from analog technology will be managed.
Although it had been announced that by 2018 the transition to digital technology would be finished, it failed to start because so many obstacles were faced, from bureaucratic obstacles to a constitutional law suit.
Two weeks from the closing date, only 11 applications have been received to install self-production energy systems in homes.
Some attribute the lack of interest to the cost of installing the panels, as the return on investment is in the medium term.
Laprensagrafica.com reports that "...The initiative for self producers of renewable energy emerged as part of the policy to diversify sources of electricity in the country which is being carried out by the National Energy Council (CNE by its initials in Spanish) and other bodies.The idea is that people can generate their own energy and sell their surplus to distributors, for which they reserved 1MW... that wasdistributed among the seven distribution companies in the country according to their users. "
Radio frequencies will be awarded taking into consideration not only economic proposals but also communicational proposals.
Amendments to the Telecommunications Act were passed by the Legislative Assembly with the consensus of all sectors involved, according to an article in Elsalvador.com.
"... The amendments include the way the frequencies are assigned being determined by the Management of Telecommunications at the Siget, taking into account the target audience and the sector that is looking for a frequency in the radio spectrum, explained the people who were involved in the work on the amendments. For example, one of the new mechanisms involves the competition, which will bring to the foreground, not the economic capacity of the medium, but the communicational proposal presented and its attraction to the target audience. "
Starting from April 15th a reduction of 16% in the rate will come into effect and it will remain unchanged until July 14th.
From a statement issued by the Presidency of El Salvador:
The Superintendency of Electricity and Telecommunications (SIGET) has released the schedule for electricity rates which will run from the 15 April to 14 July, in which there is a noteworthy a reduction of energy costs, of 15.90%.
An operator has warned that investments in the sector will be jeopardized by uncertainty regarding the renewal of concessions.
The breaking down of the relationship between the Salvadoran government and telecommunications companies has embarked on a new chapter. Uncertainty about whether the General Superintendency of Electricity and Telecommunications (Siget) will or will not auction 40 megahertz of the radio spectrum, is generating unease among some operators.
Government control over the allocation of concessions and the lack of antitrust rules have set alarm bells ringing for companies in the sector.
The Legislature will have only the three months granted by the Constitutional Court, from now, in order to make amendments to the Law on Telecommunications (LT).
Meanwhile, the Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development (FUSADES) studied the Draft Law on Community Broadcasting of the Legislative Assembly and the draft Law on Public Media submitted by former President Mauricio Funes, September 19 2013, both are projects which come under the Telecommunications Law.