Another month and ten days by the end of the two-year term, complete negotiations between the state and the private telephone companies Claro and Movistar, which provide mobile telephone services to more than 17.7 million subscribers with a density of 97.3 lines per 100 inhabitants. The deadline is shortened amid the break in negotiations to 120 days, he decided Agency for regulation and control of telecommunications (Arcotel), in the midst of the election campaign and on the threshold of the end of the current government.

According to a financial publication report Weekly analysis, he Ministry of Telecommunications It is claimed that negotiations cannot continue due to a lack of information on four issues:

Although according to sources from the telecommunications sector, the issue of spectrum value has not yet been resolved, this very sensitive point could prevent the progress of negotiations. This is what candidates like from now on Yaku Pérez talked about the fact that around 9000 million dollars could be collected through these negotiations, while she herself is the Minister of Telecommunications, Vianna Maino, said a few days ago that the negotiations cannot be held below the values ​​that have already been paid in the previous negotiations. As far as is known, Movistar and Claro paid in 2008, that is, the then values ​​of 90 million dollars, 270 million dollars, and 360 million dollars, respectively.

In this regard, Arcotel pointed out that the value of the spectrum is not everything and that an integral evaluation of the concession must be established. That is, the quality of services, technologies and investments to be implemented and their conditions, social benefits, greater coverage, technology for national security, as well as the amounts to be paid to the state.

That same criterion is exposed The World Bank, stating in a 2019 analysis that “higher spectrum prices are associated with negative outcomes for consumers, including lower coverage levels and slower data speeds”. The GSMA, the world’s telephone union, points out that the spectrum hoarding policy has business consequences, resulting in high rates and consumers with less coverage and slower speeds.

What are the current spectrum trading conditions in the region?

If you search for information on the media and portals about the telecommunications issue, it is evident that, although it is about different conditions and a different scope of the spectrum, the values ​​are far from what was paid in 2008. In addition, there are countries that are prone to non-revenue spectrum concessions. They prefer other types of benefits to payment money according to the state.

Guatemala conducted one of the last auctions. In this process, carried out Last June 2, Tigo and Claro concessions were granted for 95 MHz and 25 MHz respectively for 20 years. The price was 48 million dollars for 120 MHz.

He May 9, 2023, in Uruguay, Claro and Movistar they managed to conclude concession contracts. Both competed for 100 MHz of spectrum, each priced at $28.1 million and $28.06 million, respectively, both for 25 years, and 200 MHz for $56 million, respectively.

Meanwhile, on July 5 of the same year. Costa Rica announced that he is going to the auction from 5G without revenue. And he explains that what he is asking for is prioritizing infrastructure deployment and including 3.695 MHz in different bands.

In accordance with Weekly analysisEcuador barely allocated 280 MHz, leaving 760 MHz immediately available without use. That is, only 26.9% of the total amount is used. The state has not made a single spectrum allocation in the last eight years.

In reality, Ecuador is below average for spectrum delivery compared to other countries.

The Minister Maino said that the Government intends to finish the negotiations before the end of her mandate. Contracts with telephone companies will be extended so that companies and users can be sure of continuity of service.