Colombia has begun receiving requests for spectrum in the 700MHz, 1,900MHz and 2,500MHz bands.
Requests will be received until November 5 and licenses are due to be awarded on December 12, as announced by ICT ministry Mintic last week.
The spectrum up for grabs is four blocks of 20MHz and one of 10MHz in the 700MHz band; one block of 5MHz in the 1,900MHz band; and eight blocks of 10MHz in the 2,500MHz band.
Mintic has fixed spectrum limits of 90MHz per operator in high bands and 45MHz in low bands.
During a public hearing on the tender, Mintic provided details of the amount of spectrum held by each operator.
Currently only Claro and Movistar hold spectrum in low bands (25MHz each in the 850MHz band). In the high bands, Tigo-UNE is close to the limit with 85MHz (55MHz in 1,900MHz and 30MHz in AWS), while Claro has 30MHz in the 1,900MHz band and 30MHz in the 2,500MHz band. Movistar has 30MHz in 1,900MHz and 30MHz in AWS.
The licenses will be for 20 years.
In a move to rekindle flagging investment, the Colombian government has opted for a spectrum model that prioritizes technical offers and coverage over the price bid.
None of the bands have a reserve price.
Under the terms for the 700MHz band, all networks in municipalities with under 100,000 inhabitants must be upgraded to 4G. In the first year of the license, 20% of the promised coverage must be completed, 50% in the second year, 80% in the third and 100% in the fourth.
Source: https://www.bnamericas.com/en/news/colombia-begins-receiving-4g-spectrum-requests