During its first year of activities, the Federal Telecommunications Institute issues several provisions in favor of developing improved services (Press Release 40/2014)
During its first year of activities, the Federal Telecommunications Institute issues several provisions in favor of developing improved services
- It modified the operative standards of numerical portability to expedite this process for users
- It performed an exhaustive review process of all telecommunications and broadcasting concession titles in force
- Created the Public Concessions Registry to integrate and update all concessions’ information
- It began the bidding of two geostationary orbital positions to provide satellite capacity for fixed satellite services
During its first year of activities, the Federal Telecommunications Institute (Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones, IFT) carried out specific actions in favor of the telecommunications sector and the users of these services: it modified numerical portability operational standards, reviewed the concession permits in force, created the Public Concession Registry and began the tendering process of two orbital geostationary positions to provide satellite capacity for fixed satellite services, among others.
Numerical Portability
With the purpose of ensuring access to the numerical portability right, which is the right of users to preserve their telephone number regardless of the service operator they choose, the Plenary of the IFT approved modifications in the operational specifications of this process in order to make them faster and more transparent for users.
- It is indispensable for prepaid mobile telephony subscribers that users requesting a change of company (mobile carrier) have a confirmation PIN (Personal Identification Number) generated by the Database Administrator (Administrador de Base de Datos, ABD). This PIN must be sent via a text message to the corresponding number upon request of the selected telephone company.
- A numeral was added for the obligation of concessionaires to deliver the invoice of the services acquired at least 10 natural days before the payment deadline.
The amendments approved by the Plenary derive from the agreements unanimously reached by the Portability Technical Committee; a forum presided and coordinated by the IFT, with the participation of telecommunication services providers who have an assigned number.
The purpose of these measures is to provide the users elements to simplify the process to of porting their telephone number if they want, reduce the potential obstacles to carry out the required process, and provide more clarity, certainty and transparency to the implementation of portability.
Public Concessions Registry
As part of the 180 Days Agenda and in compliance of the mandates included in fractions V and VI of the Eighth transitory article of the telecommunications Constitutional Reform Decree, the IFT created the Public Concessions Registry in March.
The Public Concessions Registry was established after reviewing a total of 3,852 telecommunications and broadcasting concessions files in force and expired. This is a database that contains and updates all the information of the current concessions providing services in telecommunications and broadcasting markets.
This Registry, designed in a digital platform that can be consulted on line for free, displays all the relevant information of the telecommunications and broadcasting concessions (name of the concessionary, issuance date, duration, coverage, authorized services and, if applicable, frequency bands, orbital positions and/or related satellite systems, among other data).
Concession Permits Review
On the other hand, the Supervision & Verification Unit and the Radio & Television Systems Unit reviewed all the files integrated of concessionaires, a total of 3,323 telecommunications and broadcasting concession permits in force. With this action, the IFT was able to generate updated information on their compliance status and integrate the documentation reception and classification process as a structural part of its supervision actions.
Once the review of the concession permits was completed, the Institute issued information requirements for operators who had incomplete files.
Concession titles to offer public telecommunications and broadcasting services allow users to know the options they have and the obligations of concessionaires.
Bidding of geostationary orbital positions
In December 11th 2013, the Plenary of the IFT approved the Bidding Program of two geostationary orbital positions for the provision of satellite capacity for fixed satellite services: 113° West and 116.8° West and their related extended C and Ku bands, countrywide. The Bidding Call and Basis for it were approved on July 16th 2014.
This is the first orbital positions assignment in the country since 2005; therefore, with this process the IFT promotes the participation of a larger number of competitors in the satellite market, which will generate more investments, technological development and improved quality and cost levels in the provision of these services.
According to the Calendar included in the Basis, next September 25th and 26th, the interested parties shall submit the responsibility pledge, a favorable economic status opinion, the economic offers and the occupation guarantee for the geostationary orbital position along with its frequency band of related frequencies. The economic offer envelopes opening session will be carried out in November 25th of the present year and the IFT will notify its resolution on December 11th.
