He Single Telecommunications Union (Sutel) filed an appeal for revocation and annulment to avoid the resolution that authorizes the marketing of fixed connectivity services to private companies and that will compete with Antel, a decision of the state-owned company in conjunction with the Executive Branch.
In the middle of this month, the Antel Directory approved the new business plan to sell fiber optic infrastructure services to large customers; that is, allow other companies to use the fiber optics of Antel to offer their own fixed internet servicesIn exchange, the public company will charge a wholesale rate that enables the use of two sections of the network, connectivity and international access, while the last section must be completed by the cable operators.
“The extended Representative Table of the PIT-CNT supported all the actions that Sutel decides to carry out against the privatization and dispossession that, according to them, is intended to be carried out to the detriment of the heritage of Antel and of Uruguay”, the union announced on its official website.
Coincidentally, the general secretary of Sutel, Florence Leymonieexplained that the union’s intention is for the Board to re-evaluate the decision. “We request that it be suspensive effectbut that is a decision that corresponds to Antel”, He added: “At the same time, we are asking for information, because the decision was not actually made public. We are basing ourselves on what has been published in the headlines and on the statements of one of Antel’s directors, who has stated that this is a ‘terrible’ decision for the public company.”
“This is also part of the defense of Antel, not only in political terms as a union, but in what is inherent to our status as public officials. According to the statute of public officials, we have the responsibility to defend the company. For this reason, we also filed the appeal based on the merits, opportunity and convenience of the resolution,” he concluded.
The position of the Broad Front
After the decision of the board, the Broad Front asked to “stop” the resolution of the Executive power which forces Antel to offer optical fiber to private companies, arguing that this would cause “great damage” and “loss of assets” for the public company and the national State.
Through a statement, the Political Board of the left-wing coalition expressed its rejection of the plan approved by the Board of Directors of Antel, approved on August 15, with which the state-owned company seeks to sell fiber optic infrastructure services to large clients, allowing other companies to use fiber optics to offer their own fixed internet services.
The FA points out that the recently approved measure “was repeatedly rejected in the National Parliament since 2020,” and that Antel’s investment in fiber optic cables was only originally intended to “guarantee the population’s access to quality connectivity.”
“With this measure, Antel is making it easier for private companies to enter the market for the sale of fiber optic internet services, using, for purely lucrative purposes, the infrastructure designed for the fulfillment of rights. According to estimates by the Board itself, this means a loss of income to the State of up to 60 million dollars annually,” the statement continues.
Likewise, the FA urges that the decision taken by the board of directors of the telecommunications company be stopped, since they understand that it goes against the will of the Legislative Branch and that “would result in great harm to the Uruguayan State.”
“The Broad Front, in order to protect public property, demands that the national government stop this transfer of national property months before the change of government,” the document states.
Source: Ambito
