Mexico. The three radio spectrum tenders that are underway at the Federal Institute of Telecommunications, IFT, registered relevant activity in recent days:
The Plenary of the Institute disqualified two participants of Tender No. IFT-4; issued a new ruling to a participant with the highest valid subsequent position for a FM Lot of that same tender; determined the issuance of five certificates of participation to an equal number of interested parties in Tender No. IFT-5, and notified the minutes of the ruling to the 13 winning participants of Tender No. IFT-6.
In this regard, the Plenary determined the disqualification of Sak Telecom, S.A. de C.V. from Lot 113 (Chignahuapan, Zacatlán and Ahuazotepec, Puebla) and Mario Óscar Beteta Vallejo from Lot 8 (San José del Cabo, B.C.S), both from the FM Band, from the Public Tender to concession the use, exploitation and commercial exploitation of 191 frequencies in the segment from 88 to 106 MHz of the modulated frequency band and 66 frequencies in the segment from 535 to 1605 kHz of the amplitude modulated band, for the provision of the public service of sound broadcasting (Tender No. IFT-4).
These disqualifications are the result of the non-payment of the consideration to which both participants were obliged, in addition to, in the case of Sak Telecom, S.A. de C.V., not having updated the guarantee of seriousness within the period established in the bidding rules, after having been declared as winners after the previous disqualifications of two other winning participants who incurred in causes of disqualification.
In both cases, the Institute, in coordination with the Treasury of the Federation, has proceeded to the execution of the corresponding guarantees of seriousness, which total $546,000 pesos.
Likewise, in accordance with the provisions of the bases of Tender No. IFT-4, the Plenary of the Institute determined the issuance of a new act of judgment in favor of Mario Óscar Beteta Vallejo for Lot 113, corresponding to the towns of Chignahuapan, Zacatlán and Ahuazotepec, in the state of Puebla, being the participant with the highest valid subsequent position that expressed interest in continuing in the bidding process.
From their notification, the winning participant will have 30 business days to pay the consideration of $796,000 pesos; if it incurs any ground for disqualification, it will proceed accordingly and to the execution of the respective guarantee of seriousness.
On the other hand, the Plenary of the Institute determined the issuance of five certificates of participation to an equal number of interested parties who complied with the requirements established for this purpose in the bases of the Public Tender to concession the use, exploitation and commercial exploitation of 10 MHz available in the band of 440-450 MHz to provide the capacity forecasting service to private radiocommunication systems (Tender No. IFT-5).
Those interested may collect their proof at the Institute's facilities on the date determined by the IFT, upon delivery of the original guarantees of seriousness that they previously sent electronically to the Institute, as well as other physical documentation required in terms of the bases themselves.
In four other cases, the Plenary determined not to grant the corresponding certificate of participation for different breaches of the requirements established in the bidding rules. On October 12, the procedure for the submission of tenders will begin, in which only those who have obtained proof of participation can participate.
Finally, on October 3, the Institute notified the 13 winning participants of the public tender to concession the use, exploitation and commercial exploitation of 148 transmission channels for the provision of the public service of digital broadcast television (Tender No. IFT-6). From that date, the winners have up to 30 business days to cover the amount of the corresponding considerations that, together, exceed 1,600 million pesos.
The winning participants are also obliged to submit to the Institute physical documentation that is in accordance with the one presented electronically in the process, as a requirement so that the corresponding concession titles can be delivered.
With these three bidding processes, the Institute strongly promotes competition in the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors and offers new alternatives for users and audiences of these services.
Additionally, in the coming weeks, the Institute plans to initiate a new public bidding process to concession the use, exploitation and commercial exploitation of up to 130 MHz in the 2,500 to 2,690 MHz band for the provision of mobile wireless access services throughout the country.
