The value of Colombia's radio spectrum has not yet been determined: Minister Sandra Urrutia

Mintic press release

This is a machine translation of the original release issued in Spanish

November 16, 2022

The Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies (MinTIC) is allowed to inform public opinion that the value of the radio spectrum in Colombia has not been defined. The assessment, construction and definition of this aspect is the responsibility of the National Spectrum Agency (ANE).

"ANE is working on it and it is thought that by January 2023 that value will be defined. Currently, progress is being made in the study of market conditions, reviewing the criteria established by the Law to maximize social welfare," he explained. the wallet holder.

Regarding the construction of the ICT Plan, Minister Sandra Urrutia emphasized that it was structured based on the results of the active listening exercise with the inhabitants of Soacha, in the Binding Regional Dialogues of Medellín and El Carmen de Viboral, in addition to the meetings with internet operators and community operators.

"The connectivity plan has two ambitious lines. The first will be supported by the mobile sector, while in the second we will integrate different technologies with internet operators and community operators. In this way, we will be able to reach remote areas by connecting with a purpose: productivity and sustainability," said Urrutia.

The radio spectrum is the set of emission frequencies that make telecommunications possible. We could say that it is the highway through which radio, television and internet waves travel, necessary to communicate through devices such as cell phones or radiotelephones, among others. The State administers this public resource and licenses private operators for its exploitation and public benefit.

The national government is currently advancing the process of renewing previously granted spectrum use permits. Decree 984 of June 13, 2022, which updates the limits of the radio spectrum, will allow the implementation of new telecommunications technologies such as 5G.

Therefore, the process of assigning and/or renewing its use will make it possible to advance in the path of closing digital gaps in the country.