Uruguay. For violating the law by not knowing publicly who are the owners of Metrored Holdings, a company that appears as the sole shareholder of Flimay, a registered stock company that manages the Claro brand in Uruguay, the President of the country himself and the Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining, revoked the license to operate Pay-TV to Claro.
President José Mujica himself said that since there is no identity of the holders or person who appears as a member of society, the current legislation is being breached.
In this way, a solution is given to a strong controversy that existed in Uruguay in recent months after the announcement of Claro to start operating Pay-TV services, which although it had a license some years ago to do so, did not provide it.
After this decision was known, a millionaire lawsuit was expected by Claro against the Uruguayan government. The company initially announced that its lawyers would analyze the legal actions they could take to defend their license.
But these doubts were resolved by the president of Claro Uruguay, Horacio Alvarellos, who indicated that he will not initiate any judicial process on the presidential decree that prevents them from providing the television service.
With this decision, Claro Uruguay, owned by Carlos Slim, is unable to offer telephony, internet and television service, as it does in other countries in the region where it has a presence. Currently, Claro has 16% of the mobile phone market, Movistar 37% and the state Antel 47%. Both private companies have an interest in Pay-TV.
