Telenor Norge announces completion of network upgrade

Ecuador’s new draft Telecommunications & Postal Services Act, submitted to parliament this week by President Rafael Correa, has been criticised by local commentators for giving preference to public enterprises in obtaining authorisations for the use and operation of radio spectrum. Regarding frequency assignments, the draft law gives priority to the needs of public organisations ‘as regards the public interest and the requirements of the services offered by these companies.’ The bill gives extensive powers over frequency licensing to a directly government-controlled entity, the Agency for Regulation & Control of Telecommunications, while private operators must obtain a ‘certificate of good conduct’, subject to approval from the new body, reports local newspaper El Universal. Further criticism of the bill came from a spokesperson for the Ecuadorian Broadcasting Association, Otto Sonnenholzner, who raised the concern that the proposed law would have the effect of prohibiting foreign investment in the communications and media sectors [More]

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