Colombia. The Communications Regulation Commission, CRC, modified the rules under which the infrastructure of the electric power service will be used, the above, with the aim of complementing public policy around the promotion of the deployment of telecommunications network infrastructure for the effective closing of the digital divide in Colombia.
The measure presented establishes new tariff ceilings, with significant reductions, for the use of poles, pipelines and towers of the infrastructure of the electric power sector by providers of communications networks and services.
The reductions in tariff ceilings, which the CRC estimates at up to 74%, will motivate communications operators, including local industry (small and medium-sized) and community operators, to deploy their networks in a faster and more efficient manner, increasing the coverage and penetration of telecommunications services in the country, facilitating last-mile deployment and bringing quality communications services to rural and remote areas of Colombia.
With this decision, for example, the operator that only reaches urban centers has incentives to deploy its service in rural areas with the use of electric power poles, to the extent that it will pay less for the use of that infrastructure.
"One of the tasks of the regulation is to eliminate the barriers to the development of the coverage of communications services, especially in hard-to-reach or rural areas. With this measure we will reduce the costs incurred by operators of communications services that prevent them from expanding their coverage and bringing digital services to the most remote areas, "explained Sergio Martínez, Commissioner of Communications of the CRC.
Additionally, the measure contemplates rules that promote an orderly deployment of telecommunications networks, counteracting the saturation of the infrastructure due to irregular uses and reducing the impact of visual pollution generated by the laying of these networks.
"With the fulfillment of the first task assigned with the sanction of the Law of Modernization of the ICT Sector (1978 of 2019), the investment and deployment of telecommunications infrastructure in the country will be promoted, mainly benefiting users who will be able to enjoy a greater offer of operators and services at lower prices," said Carlos Lugo Silva, CRC Communications Commissioner.
The new conditions for the use and remuneration of this infrastructure were defined after developing a technical study in which the current state of sharing and national and international practices was analyzed and, in addition, working tables were developed with the different interested agents belonging to guilds, industry and government entities who expressed their problems and provided feedback on the regulatory proposal.
See CRC Resolution 5890 of 2020 here: https://www.crcom.gov.co/es/pagina/condiciones-comparticion-infraestructura-pasiva
