Costa Rica’s Superintendency of Telecommunications (Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones, Sutel) has announced that the deadline for submitting bids in the public tender for 2×20MHz spectrum blocks in the 1800MHz band and 2×15MHz blocks in the 1900MHz and 2100MHz bands has been extended from 30 March until 20 April. Interested bidders were initially required to submit their proposals by 13 February but the process has been delayed for ‘administrative’ reasons.
State-owned operator Kolbi is understood to be barred from participating in the auction due to the extent of its existing spectrum holdings, and Sutel is hoping to encourage new operators to enter the market. As such, Millicom International Cellular (MIC)-backed cableco Tigo Star has reportedly expressed an interest in bidding for the spectrum.