Colombian operators blocking interconnection deals - Partners CEO

News Wireless Colombia 26 AUG 2020
Colombian operators blocking interconnection deals - Partners CEO

Partners, a vehicle for the Novator fund that recently acquired mobile operator Avantel, has been unable to reach interconnection deals with Claro and Tigo and has called on communications regulator CRC to intervene. In an interview with local daily La Republica, Partners CEO Chris Bannister said Movistar (Telefonica) is the only national operator to reach a national roaming deal with the newcomer and that Claro executives have deliberately evaded discussions. 

Bannister said Claro failed to attend conflict resolution meetings arranged with the CRC after claiming their lawyer wasn’t available. “Claro… are using their dominant position to affect us, causing problems in investment, and ultimately in creating jobs," said the executive. He also confirmed that the 700MHz spectrum Avantel had been using has been withdrawn following a complaint from Claro and that the country’s spectrum agency ANE is investigating the issue. 

Last December, Partners acquired 20MHz in the 700MHz band and 30MHz in the 2.5GHz band, the same as Claro, with Tigo-Une winning 40MHz in the 700MHz band. The tender conditions require Novator to install 700MHz networks in 674 Colombian rural locations by next year, rising to 3,658 localities within 5 years.



Categories:

Mobile

Companies:

Claro,  Novator,  Avantel

Countries:

Colombia

Tags:

Network Access, Regulations, Wholesale

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