IFT cancels 5G spectrum tender after Sheinbaum’s announcement

The Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT) has canceled a tender for the ideal radio spectrum to provide 5G services after receiving complaints and a written communication from the federal government headed by Claudia Sheinbaum.

The IFT in a statement defended the design and timing of the trial’s publication, although it acknowledged it would cancel it because its disappearance would prevent it from being brought to a successful conclusion.

It should be remembered that Congress approved a reform that eliminates IFTs and other autonomous organizations, so these institutions must cease operations in the coming months.

The IFT issued the call on December 18, 2024, drawing immediate criticism from President Claudia Sheinbaum, who said the institute sought to “deliver everything” that was available before its disappearance.

On January 2, Claudia Sheinbaum’s government formally asked the IFT to cancel the process, which was adopted at the institute’s plenary meeting, arguing that it would help provide legal and regulatory certainty.

Here is the IFT statement:

On December 18, 2024, the Plenum of the Federal Institute of Communications (IFT) at its regular meeting approved the publication of the Rules for Bidding No. IFT-12 with Appendices and Appendices thereto. This resolution was adopted in strict accordance with the legislative framework, in exercise of the powers vested in this regulatory body and valid until the completion of its termination, as established by the Decree on the Constitutional Reform of Administrative Simplification published in the Official Gazette. Federation (DOF) December 20.

Tenders for various blocks of radio spectrum in bands such as 600 MHz, 2.5 GHz and 800 MHz, as well as the L band in particular, in which 5G services are possible, have been envisaged in the regulator’s Annual Work Programs 2022-2024 . These bands have been included in the Annual Band Use and Operation Programs 2020-2024 issued by IFT for concession for commercial use through public bidding.

For the sake of transparency and citizen participation, this institute held two public consultations on the tender: an “integration consultation”, which allowed to obtain materials for the preparation of the base project, held from January 9 to March 21, 2023. ; and another one on the Tender Rules, which took place from May 7 to July 1, 2024. The latter was attended by AHCIET, Telcel, AT&T, Altán Redes, ANATEL, Huawei, GSMA, Qualcomm, Megacable, CANIETI, Viasat Tecnologia, Promtel, ASIET and Miguel Tentay Cortes Solórzano[1]. Likewise, as established by the Federal Telecommunications and Broadcasting Act, IFT has requested a non-binding opinion from the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit regarding the minimum benchmark values ​​proposed for this tender.

On January 2, 2025, the Institute received from the Agency for Digital Transformation and Telecommunications, which is the federal executive body responsible for developing and implementing federal government policies in the field of telecommunications and broadcasting within the framework of what is specified in the article. 42 Ter Organic Law on Federal Public Administration, request for cancellation of tender No. IFT-12, which emphasizes that the new organization will not have the elements to continue its activities under the conditions determined by the IFT. Based on the timing provided in the event calendar of bidding rules No. IFT-12, which is extended until the first quarter of 2026, it is likely that the exemption from certain activities for bidding will be consistent with the new authority once this Institute has been dissolved.

Considering this, in order to ensure legal and regulatory certainty that should prevail in all tender procedures, at the regular meeting held on January 15 of this year, the Plenary Meeting of the Institute decided to cancel Tender No. IFT-12, subject to the provisions of section 17.1 of the Bidding Rules themselves , which expressly provide for the possibility of cancellation of bidding by the Plenary Session.

Source: Aristegui Noticias

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