Chile holds public consultation on broadband speed

Chile telecoms regulator Subtel has launched a public consultation on the secondary legislation of a 2017 law that regulates internet speeds offered by operators.

The law requires operators to detail in their sales contracts the average speeds for fixed and mobile connections that consumers should expect to receive at different times of the day.

According to the market's latest consumer satisfaction report, mobile and fixed broadband services received among the lowest approval ratings, with 42% and 22%, respectively.

The public consultation is composed of five points: measurement of user speeds by individuals; the creation of an independent technical body to carry out measurement of internet speeds; which contracts, advertising and special offers can be called broadband; complaints and compensation, and general regulation.

Telcos initially welcomed the law, but said they were awaiting the regulations included in the secondary legislation.

In December last year, Colombia became one of the first countries in Latin America to ban operators from referring to mobile and fixed internet as "broadband" unless they guarantee minimum speeds of 25Mbps for download and 5Mbps for upload.