Need to add spectrum authority to database https://www.ane.gov.co/ — Steve Song 2019/03/25 10:31

Source: https://www.redesac.org.mx/regulacion

In Colombia, Law 1341 of 2009 has opened the entry of new actors for the provision of telecommunications services, which could be small operators or large operators, for profit or non-profit.

Colombia has been exploring the possibility of accommodating community operators in rural or difficult-to-access areas for the deployment of land mobile services (broadband) and is still in the study stage.

According to information obtained by the Ministry of ICT and the National Spectrum Agency (ANE), pilot tests are intended to define technical, economic and social feasibility, to establish new regulatory measures. In addition to this exploration, there are community television and broadcasting licenses for which special price conditions and obligations have been determined.

Resolution 461 of 2017, issued by the ANE, mentions the technical and operative conditions for the operation of blank space devices in the band 470 MHz to 698 MHz in the “free use” modality, which does not require payments for the use of the radioelectric spectrum.

Additionally, Resolution 711 of 2016 significantly expanded the spectrum destined for free use, with which it hopes to guarantee the possibility that connectivity technologies at reasonable costs reach low-income populations.

Resolution 1824 was published in 2018, establishing mechanisms for the light assignment of spectrum specifically in band E, in order to facilitate the deployment of broadband services in rural and remote areas.

This band constitutes an adequate technical solution to respond to the high demand of broadband spectrum for the provision of services, due to the fact that it presents a very low probability of interference between links; providing high data transmission capacities for the deployment of network links (backhaul) and last mile radio links, in addition to the easy installation of equipment, the bandwidths that use 250MHz base channelization plans and the high performance levels (throughput) that can be reached per channel.

The Ministry of ICT (MinTIC) may establish discounts on the consideration for the use of the radio spectrum in cases where the sole purpose is the development of social telecommunications programs or projects.

Consultations about the homologation of the LibreRouter were conducted with the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies (MinTIC), the National Spectrum Agency (ANE) and the Communications Regulatory Commission (CRC). It was determined that the entity in charge of homologation in Colombia is the CRC, to whom a consultation was sent regarding the need for homologation of the LibreRouter. After some exchanges in which the CRC requested more specific information on the equipment such as brand, model, manufacturer, technical specifications, block diagram, which were sent with the support of AlterMundi's team, a letter was received notifying that “the equipment of the brand LIBREROUTER, model LR1, manufactured by DRAGINO, is not currently required to complete the approval process before the CRC, in accordance with the provisions of CRC Resolutions 5162 of 2017 and 5300 of 2018. Consequently, the terminals associated with the aforementioned brand and model are not required to go through the process of obtaining the respective 'Certificate of Approval'”. The complete CRC response letter is available at:

https://redescomunitarias.co/es/noticias/librerouter-con-via-libre-para-ser-probado-en-redes-comunitarias-en-colombia

This letter certifies that the LibreRouter is exempt from the homologation process in Colombian territory.

In 2025 after 10 years of sustained policy advocacy efforts of Colnodo, rural communities and LocNet, MinTIC finally announced that they would consider refarming of the 900 MHz band which was IMT band, for fixed wireless internet access. With this, an unprecedented process of spectrum allocation for unconnected or underserved rural communities organized as “connectivity communities” and also for small, local ISPs was started. Below is a timeline of milestones, summarized.

2026 timeline.

From 3500 expressions of interest, only 35 appicants showed up for both categories of uses: community, not-forprofit applicants and small for-profits ISP´s. From those 35 only 9 CCCIs applications were approved and 3 for ISPs. Public consultation was opened but not under Convention 169 for Indigenous peoples rules. When expression of interest was sought, MinTIC had not published the final technical, regulatory and economic conditions of such spectrum permits. All 9 CCCIs accompanied by Colnodo were approved and will get spectrum for 10 years, at no cost for spectrum use but will have to contribute as “Telecom Providers” to USF, CRC quotas, etc. Only one allocation of 2×5 MHz per community will be possible unless in the second year of use, community holder proves it needs more bandwidth to operate efficiently.

This could be used to frame specific questions that should be asked

<callout type=“tip” icon=“true”>This could be for hints / tips / tricks on finding information, what to look for etc.</callout> <callout type=“question” icon=“true”>A question</callout> <callout type=“success” icon=“true”>A good practice example might look like this</callout> <callout type=“danger” icon=“true”>A bad practice to be aware of might look like this</callout>