Colombia ICT sector wants 700MHz auction postponed

Colombian ICT companies have called on the outgoing government of Juan Manuel Santos (pictured) to leave details of the much anticipated tender for 4G spectrum in the 700MHz and 1900MHz bands to the next government.

The tender suffered numerous setbacks and is one of the main items on Santos' ICT checklist that was not ticked off, as it underwent several changes.

In January, Mintic modified the guidelines for the spectrum auction, deciding to tender 70MHz split into seven blocks in the 700MHz band instead of the original plans for four blocks. The 1900MHz band involves two blocks totaling 5MHz.

In a more controversial move, Mintic modified the spectrum caps, raising them to 90MHz for high frequency bands and 45MHz for lower frequency bands, thus allowing Telefónica (Movistar) and América Móvil (Claro) to participate. This raised the ire of Millicom as it had to return 50MHz in the lower bands to meet the previous cap of 85MHz.

In addition, a public consultation on the second draft proposal was postponed until May, and only on July 11 did industry and commerce regulator SIC approve the tender's proposed general structure.

However, Samuel Alberto Yohai, president of the ICT association (CciT) was quoted by daily La República as saying that the tender "has been a lost opportunity for the country and the sector. I think it is inappropriate that the government sign off on the bidding rules."

Yohai said that SIC had recommended simplifying the rules to make them more understandable.

The SIC has also recommended reducing the bidding round times and introducing mechanisms that foster more competitive bidding.

Mauricio López, technical VP of Colombia's public services and communications association (Andesco), said "the SIC recommended making adjustments to the process which suggests that it is better that the new authorities that take over on August 7 take charge of this."

Nancy Patricia Gutiérrez, head of Asomóvil, the sector association that represents the three largest mobile operators Claro, Movistar and Tigo UNE, said "we should not rush the bidding rules of the tender leaving the next administration to have to accept the consequences."