Page 131 - SAMENA Trends - July-August 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Regulatory Unit of Communications Services January 2023. The legislation amended Article 56 of
(Unidad Reguladora de Servicios de Comunicaciones, the Law on Audiovisual Communication Services which
URSEC) has authorized a further four regional cable barred cablecos from providing internet, phone and
operators to offer fixed broadband services. Pafinol, data transmission services to prevent cross-ownership.
Uruguay Canelones Cablevision Color, Teveca and Yatek have The development came after URSEC authorized five
cable operators to offer broadband internet services in
all been granted Class B telecoms licenses to provide
data transmission services in the geographical area June 2022. Cable Montevideo (Montecable), Tractoral
where they are currently permitted to operate through (TCC), Korfield, Praimar and Riselco (Nuevo Siglo) were
their Class D licenses. The quartet join Sergio Eduardo permitted to offer fixed broadband to consumers after
Moreira Rosso, which was also authorized to provide filing a legal action challenging the constitutionality of
fixed broadband services a few weeks ago. Late last Article 56. In 2016 the Supreme Court of Justice ruled in
year, President Luis Lacalle Pou signed Law 20,075, their favor but the article remained in place due to lack
effectively allowing cable TV operators to apply for of political support for its elimination.
a license to provide fixed broadband services from 1 (July 27, 2023) DPL News

The Authority of Radio Frequency Management (RFD) Communications (MIC) published Circular No. 19/2019/
is completing preparations for an auction of mobile TT BTTTT on plans for the use of the 694MHz-806MHz
spectrum in the 700MHz band. The frequencies, which frequency band for mobile services; it came into effect
were freed up through the switchover from analogue on 16 February 2020. The development follows an
Uruguay to digital TV, will be used by mobile operators for the unsuccessful auction of 2300MHz spectrum licenses
earlier this year which failed to attract any bidders.
provision of 4G and 5G services. In preparation for
this, in December 2019 the Ministry of Information and (August 11, 2023) VietNamNet

131 JULY-AUGUST 2023