Costa Rican telecoms regulator SUTEL has said that it does not have the power to hold a second mobile spectrum auction after a disappointing response to its first auction on 14 December.
Five telcos had expressed an interest in the auction for spectrum…
Costa Rican telecoms regulator SUTEL has said that it does not have the power to hold a second mobile spectrum auction after a disappointing response to its first auction on 14 December.
Five telcos had expressed an interest in the auction for spectrum in the 850MHz, 1,800MHz and 2,100MHz bands. But only two – Telefonica and Claro, owned by America Movil – bid for the spectrum.
It was reported last week that SUTEL was planning to hold a second auction for spectrum that is left unsold in the bidding process of the first auction.
However, a SUTEL spokesperson told TelecomFinance that this information was incorrect. The regulator does not have the power to order such an auction. That power rests with the government.
The spokesperson said that the government now had several options, including not changing the process, calling for re-bids or redistributing spectrum in the future.
SUTEL plans to announce the winner of the auction and grant licences in September 2011.
