America Movil’s Chilean unit Claro, Telefonica’s local wireless operations Movistar, and Chilean Empresa Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (Entel) have each presented proposals for the 2.6 GHz frequency band tender, which will be responsible for the deployment of LTE networks in Chile.
Each proposal received scores, which Chile‘s secretary of telecommunications (Subtel) must ratify after technical evaluations. Claro scored 98.52 points, Movistar 98.11, and Entel 99.06.
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The next step will include an evaluation of how each proposal would contribute to higher quality standards for services, measuring coverage within homes and buildings and determining if infrastructure sharing would favor the entry of MVNOs and the use of the networks by any third party. The Department of Telecommunications will also start the process of performing a technical evaluation and a legal analysis for regulatory compliance.
Chilean tender rules were set last December, when Subtel disclosed award conditions for 4G auctions in the 2.6 GHz band. Subtel will parcel out three 20 megahertz blocks of frequency for applicants, which may access a maximum of one block. The LTE auction rules include items related to the quality requirements, infrastructure sharing for mobile virtual network operator input and display Internet service in 560 rural villages without connectivity.
The Minister of Transport and Telecommunications Pedro Pablo Errazuriz said the 4G tender will provide more spectrum for the development of telecommunications services and, in particular, result in greater quality for mobile broadband services.
An increase in mobile broadband connections, along with record telecom investments and smartphone penetration growth were the highlights of the Chilean wireless market in 2011.
According to the latest numbers from Chile’s secretary of telecommunications (Subtel), the telecommunications industry generated $2.4 billion in investments in 2011, which is 25.4% more than in 2010 and the largest amount in eight years. (Read full document in Spanish).
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