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.
Between 2018 and 2020, it is estimated that the demand for data services in the fixed and mobile network grew 2.5 times, a rise that can be partly explained by the need to work at a distance and receive educational services online.
Because of the spread of covid-19 and the imposition of restrictions on mobility, businesses, workers and consumers have had to migrate to the digital environment at great speed.
In Guatemala, the telephone company Tuenti reported that it will now be part of América Móvil, owner of the Claro brand, following the sale of Telefonica's shares in early 2019.
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.
The government has announced that before the end of the year they expected to tender part of the frequency spectrum which is not currently being used.
The Morales administration plan use the 700 MHz spectrum that is currently available on broadcast television as a part of the AWS band, allocating it to telecom operators in order to improve data transmission services.
The appointment as Minister of Economy and Competitiveness Commissioner of people linked to the telecommunications sector has created strong suspicions, and comes at a time when a $250 million deal is on the table.
An article in Plazapublica.com.gt reports that "... the appointment of Ricardo Sagastume and Acisclo Valladares Urruela as Minister of Economy and Presidential Commissioner for Competitiveness, respectively, in a government that is drowning under the weight of allegations of corruption, has generated doubts and suspicions. When everyone else is leaving the ship, they are getting ready to get onboard. With a lack of coherent explanations from the Presidency and the new officials themselves, everything points to Tigo, the telephone company from which both of them come from, and a multi million dollar business deal in its favor as a result of the troubled waters in which the country finds itself. "
The Superintendency of Telecommunications (Sutel) did not authorize the merger between Tigo and Telecable, without disclosing in detail the reasons for this decision.
The Superintendency of Telecommunications (Sutel) did not authorize the merger between Tigo and Telecable, without disclosing in detail the reasons for this decision.
The Superintendency of Telecommunications (Sutel) has ruled against the merger which the the two companies intended to undergo. An article in Nacion.com reports that Norman Chaves, Corporate Affairs Manager of Tigo, said that "... the risk posed by the alliance between the two companies affecting competition in some sectors of the country was questioned." He added that "... We will review the decision of the Sutel and follow proper administrative channels to continue this process. We firmly believe that this integration would benefit consumers, and industry and contribute to bridge the digital divide in Costa Rica. "
The application of tax of $0.65 per mobile phone line that had been proposed by the Executive to fund part of the 2015 budget has been temporarily suspended.
The Constitutional Court temporarily suspended the collection of the tax on telephone lines after the Chamber of Industry and the three phone companies operating in the country submitted an appeal against the tax.
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.
The contract that has been signed grants Miffin Associates, a partner of Millicom in Guatemala, the unconditional option to purchase its stake in the company.
The telecommunications company Millicom, announces the signature of an agreement to negotiate 45% of the shares of its partner in Tigo Guatemala, Miffin Associates, with a minimum term of 2 years.
Systor International will be responsible for managing the porting process, which will be funded by operators of frequencies for mobile phones.
Authorities from the National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel), as well as executives from the mobile operators Tigo, Claro and Hondutel confirmed that the Norwegian company Systor International will is responsible for the operation, administration and management of the central database for the number portability process.
95% of the 21 million handsets registered as operational in July 2013 are prepaid.
The data was released by the Superintendency of Telecommunications (SIT). "Of every 10 active phones, nine are prepaid and only one uses a payment plan by the company providing the service," reported Prensalibre.com.
According to these statistics, Tigo reports 9.6 million prepaid lines, ie 49% of all subscribers.
In Costa Rica the growing business is led by Tigo which has a 78% market share, Callmyway with 16%, Telecable with 5% and other companies with just 1%.
Recent studies by the Sutel show that the use of internet telephony has been making great strides. "While in the fourth quarter of 2010 there were 10 VoIP connections, two years later there were 18,144 such connections," explains Pablo Fonseca in Nacion.com.
After reserving frequencies for the state run company Hondutel, Conatel awarded the rest of the band to Tigo and Claro, who will pay $12 million each.
Latribuna.hn reported that "The government has sold a license to operate a 4G mobile band worth $24,105,000, reserving a portion for the Honduran Telecommunications Company (Hondutel), so that it can exploit it in the future jointly with a private partner. "
The country was the only one in Central America which had no law on the subject.
Telephone companies have until next September 30 to do everything that the law requires to start operating a number portability system by October 1.
According to Deputy Thomas Zambrano, the law will benefit more than seven million users who are subscribed to three mobile companies including Tigo, Claro and Hondutel.
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