Colombia. In order to identify needs for regulatory improvement and promote innovation in communications services, with a focus on areas of low coverage in connectivity, the CRC advanced the first call for the Regulatory Sandbox, unique worldwide in communications services.
The open call on April 5 started with a total of twenty-three (23) proposals from the Telecommunications, Postal and Television sectors, of which ten (10) were enabled, once the fulfillment of the minimum requirements was corroborated. These projects were submitted to an evaluation, which had the support of the National University of Colombia, in which the selection criteria established by Resolution CRC 5980 of 2020 were verified, which resulted in the admission of three (3) projects that continue to the Experimentation Phase.
The proposals accepted are:
- From the company Colombia Telecomunicaciones S.A. E.S.P. the project called "Internet in rural and peri-urban areas through 4G Open RAN cellular mobile coverage" that seeks to provide 4G cellular mobile coverage in rural and peri-urban areas, using new technologies.
- From the same company, Colombia Telecomunicaciones S.A. E.S.P., the project "SOC Tool (Service Operation Center)" focused on the implementation of a platform for the real measurement of the experience of users of the mobile Internet service.
- From the company Colombia Móvil S.A. E.S.P the project "Convergent Contract", aimed at simplifying the process of contracting fixed and mobile services (postpaid) of citizens, through a unified contract for the provision of the aforementioned services.
These projects will become the first to be authorized by the CRC to start the Experimentation Phase of the Regulatory Sandbox and will enjoy the flexibility of measures for a certain period of time, after which, if their effectiveness and success are verified, it could induce an adjustment in the current regulatory framework for the permanent implementation of the proposal.
It is important to mention that, before starting the experimentation, between the proponents of the projects and this Commission, a consultation process will be developed in which the risks will be identified and safeguards, indicators of success, the information with which it will be monitored and its collection protocols will be defined, as well as the other particular conditions that must be met during the experimentation of each of the projects. All these particular conditions will be contained in the administrative acts of authorization that will be issued by the CRC.
"The CRC thanks all the companies that applied for this innovative exercise and recognizes the transformative potential of the projects that were not authorized to experiment. These projects will be the subject of future analysis by this Commission, in order to promote and strengthen those that demonstrate benefits for agents in the communications sector in Colombia." Sergio Martínez Medina, Executive Director of the CRC, explained.
"Without a doubt, the Regulatory Sandbox is a great opportunity for innovation that will allow us to strengthen the economic development of the country since new business models, services or solutions can be tested. We hope to be able to show soon the results of the experimentation of these projects that will benefit citizens and industry" concluded the Director.
Given the success of this call and the innovative proposals received, the CRC will create a project bank in which it will include initiatives that could eventually be implemented in the future.
In this context, it is noteworthy that the Regulatory Sandbox led by the CRC is an alternative regulatory mechanism unique in the region and one of the first Sandbox-type experiences for communications in the world, which is why this Commission has dedicated its best efforts in favor of innovation and the maximization of the social welfare of users.
