The Communications Services Regulatory Unit (Ursec) opened the call for tenders and defined when the last stage of the process will begin, amid controversies.
The Communications Services Regulatory Unit (Ursec) defined that the auction for the two blocks of the 5G network in Uruguay will take place on Friday, April 28, amid the controversies generated by the details of the specifications approved by the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining (MIEM) for the bidding.
Ursec had a period of 30 days to set the date on which, finally, a tender will be called for the installation, development and deployment of the 5G technology in the country, after the government approved the specifications on March 30. According to the resolution signed by the president of the organization, Mercedes Aramendia, that day will be April 28, the last business day of the month.
The companies interested in participating in the auction —still undecided amid complaints and possible measures against the process— will have until Thursday the 13th to cBuy the sheet for $3,600. That day also expires the deadline for making inquiries regarding the tender, as well as for the presentation of the documentation and information required to participate, which can be sent through the “Online Procedures” platform.
On the other hand, April 21 at 3:30 p.m. is the deadline to submit the initial deposit “prior to the final stage of the procedure”; to finally open the envelopes on the 28th at 10, at the Ursec headquarters.
Is the auction at risk?
Beyond the fact that Ursec has defined the specific date for the final instance of the process around the 5G network to begin, there are several telecommunications companies that are analyzing or will carry out measures that could put a pause in the auction of the three segments in the 3.5 GHz band — one of which is already reserved for Antel.
On the one hand, Clear will file an administrative appeal against the specifications, mainly for the base price of each 100 MHz section, valued at 28 million dollars, as it has no “foundation”; and due to the “competitive inequality” established by the allocation already made to Antel of its section in the 5G band, one of the first points observed by private parties. In addition, Movistar it analyzes what steps to take since the conditions do not “facilitate” a “competitive deployment”.
Both companies also present problems regarding the automatic renewal of 3G and 4G networks: Of course, considering that the established prices did not contemplate the evolution of the business of each particular actor; and Movistar, due to their links with the president of Ursec, as well as the possibility that the company may have benefited in determining the value of the service.
Besides, Dedicated would challenge the decree of the Executive Power that enabled the auction, as they had announced as soon as the draft of the specifications with the bases and conditions was known. According to the company, the auction was designed in such a way that the requirements to participate intentionally exclude national providers. They do not rule out raising the claim to the judicial level.
Source: Ambito
