The government of Mexico has reached an agreement with several licence holders that enables it to assume control of a 130MHz block of unused 2.5GHz spectrum.
Of the 11 licensees involved, 9 relinquished their shares in the spectrum voluntarily. The Mexican transport and telecommunication ministry has suggested that the frequencies could be sold off to improve competition in a market that has long been dominated by one operator – America Movil.
Earlier this year, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto signed a bill aimed at breaking the dominance of telecom monopolies. Extensive reforms are underway to encourage competition in the country’s mobile, fixed and television sectors.
In a statement, the ministry said: “Recovering this spectrum for the nation strengthens the state’s ability to achieve greater broadband service coverage.” One of the concession holders was the wireless broadband provider MVS Multivision.
A 15-year extension has been applied to the licences covering the remaining 60MHz of spectrum in the 2.5GHz band.
