Twenty-four Companies Request WiMax Licenses

Twenty-four companies submitted requests to Colombia's communications ministry, Mincomunicaciones Colombia on Monday (Aug 14) to obtain licenses to offer wireless broadband services in the 3.5GHz spectrum band, according to the ministry's website.

The companies submitted proposals for one or more of the country's 32 departments where DD and EE blocks of spectrum are being opened for use. Up to five companies will be granted permission to operate in each of the departments, BNamericas previously reported.

Telmex Colombia, Diveo Colombia, Comcel, and Avantel all submitted bids to one or more of the major departments, according to a ministry press statement.

Valle del Cauca department saw the highest number of bids with eleven companies bidding for bandwidth. All of the aforementioned telcos, except for Avantel, submitted bids in this department.

Antioquia, home to the city of Medellín, received bids from nine different companies, including the 4 companies previously mentioned while the Cundinamarca department, where capital Bogotá is located, also saw heavy interest with eight companies submitting bids, again including Telmex, Diveo, Comcel and Avantel.

Comcel made the highest number of bids, submitting requests to operate in all 32 departments, including eight where it constituted the sole bidder.

Authorities will likely make their decisions in coming weeks.

The auction was originally scheduled for July 14 and then delayed after several operators interested in the process said the initial deadline was not long enough to gather all the information required, BNamericas previously reported.

BNAmericas.com"

Posted to the site on 17th August 2006