BOGOTÁ (WiMAX Day). The communications ministry Mincomunicaciones in Columbia (MinCom) has announced that 55 licenses for 3.5 GHz spectrum have been issued for 32 regions in Columbia.

In a press release issued by MinCom, communications minister María del Rosario Guerra stated “We expect that the operators that have been awarded the licenses to offer wireless broadband service will allow the country to be better communicated and to expand technologies across the country.”

The largest block of licenses was awarded to the cable operator Cable Union de Occidente, who received 19 licenses. Comcel, a subsidiary of América Móvil, was awarded 13 licenses. Columbia mobile operator Avantel was awarded seven licenses. Other licenses were awarded to Comunicaciones Satelitales de Colombia, Cablecentro, Emcali, Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de la Orinoquía, Wireless Colombia and Servisatélite.

The results of the spectrum auction had been delayed since August when twenty-four companies submitted bids for licenses. The delay was caused by accusations from several bidders that mobile operator Comcel delivered its proposal five minutes past the posted deadline, although MinCom stated that in fact the proposal was made before the deadline.

Cable Union and Avantel join forces
Immediately prior to the announcement from MinCom, Cable Union and Avantel last week announced that they will join forces for investment in their new licenses and together the two companies will jointly deploy WiMAX services and strive for broader penetration of the market.

The combined efforts of the companies will be through a new joint venture company named Oportunet, and will primarily focus on the launch of WiMAX services in the regions of the Atlantic, Bolivar, the Cauca, Cordova, Cundinamarca, Guajira, Nariño, North of Santander, Quindío, Risaralda, Santander, Sucre, Valley, Antioch, Casanare, Huila, Magdalena, Meta and Tolima.

According to a press release issued by Avatel, Oportunet will offer WiMAX services to both residential and business customers, and it is expected that customers will use the services for general access, VoIP, data and video. Carlos Mariño, President of Avantel, noted “our alliance with Cable Union… will bring the possibility of enjoying a service of wireless Internet of broadband to most Colombians, and access to new opportunities of progress for the regions.”