Argentina’s government has scrapped its planned tender of 3G spectrum and has instead assigned the frequencies to state-run satellite operator Arsat.
In a statement Julio De Vido, the country’s federal planning minister, said that of the interested…
Argentina’s government has scrapped its planned tender of 3G spectrum and has instead assigned the frequencies to state-run satellite operator Arsat.
In a statement Julio De Vido, the country’s federal planning minister, said that of the interested parties only America Movil’s Claro met the conditions of the tender but that he did not want further consolidation in the market.
“Argentines are fed up of monopolies,” said De Vido.
According to the minister, Arsat will now hold about 25% of Argentina’s 3G spectrum and will look to partner with private firms to build-out the frequencies.
It is the latest intervention from the Cristina Kirchner’s government – she nationalised Argentina’s biggest oil firm YPF in the spring, and previously expropriated airline Aerolineas and private pension funds.
The operators that were planning to bid for the spectrum in the 850MHz and 1900MHz bands were Claro, Personal, Nextel, Multitrunk and Superfone.
