By Wendy Anders

Costa Rican telecommunications oversight agency, the Superintendency of Telecommunications (Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones, SUTEL), published today the rules for the auction of spectrum in the 1800MHz and 1900MHz/2100MHz bands.

In the first half of 2017, SUTEL will sell 70MHz of frequencies left over from the 2011 tender, including 2×20MHz in the 1800MHz range and 2×15MHz in the 1900MHz/2100MHz band.

For the upcoming sale, the regulator will split the holdings into seven 2×5MHz blocks, to be auctioned through multiple rounds of bidding. Concessions will be valid for 15 years, and bidders must have a minimum of five years’ experience providing telecommunications services in at least one country, with annual gross income of more than 50 percent of the base price of the seven blocks, announced SUTEL on their website today.

The announcement was made by to allow time for interested firms to familiarize themselves with the public auction terms, and to make any comments,” said Glenn Fallas, General Director of Quality and Spectrum for SUTEL.

The spectrum auction will allow telecom companies to increase and improve their wireless services and provide better coverage and services to the public. This provides an opportunity for a new telecom provider to potentially enter into Costa Rica’s telecom market. The move also aims to avoid concentrated spectrum and promoting environmental sustainability, said SUTEL in their press release.