As part of MWC Barcelona 2026, a working roundtable convened by ASIET, with support from Waiken ILW, took place. Public authorities from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Spain, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay attended, along with operators, equipment vendors and international organizations (World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, CAF–Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, ECLAC and CITEL), among other stakeholders.

Pedro Bentancourt, VP of External, Economic and Regulatory Affairs at Waiken ILW, warned: "There is a deep regulatory asymmetry across Latin American countries. Sectors such as traditional TV face heavy burdens, while streaming platforms operate with greater freedom. This disparity, combined with the advance of digital piracy, undermines the competitiveness of companies that generate added value and skilled jobs, and slows investment in critical infrastructure."

The executive identified modernization of regulatory frameworks as a priority, focusing on the following aspects: formal recognition of the hybrid audiovisual market; horizontal and proportionate regulation; simplification of regulatory frameworks (proportionate, technologically neutral and aligned with competitive dynamics, with a results-based approach); coordination among authorities to structurally combat piracy; and preservation of investment capacity.

Meanwhile, Maryleana Méndez, secretary general of ASIET, called for a "real shift in regulatory vision." The Telecommunications Studies Center of Latin America (cet.la) delivered a preliminary presentation of a report featuring comparative experiences in regulatory improvement across the region, as a practical reference to help modernize regulatory frameworks.

In particular, the report highlights regulation of Brazil’s audiovisual market; cases in which state support worked through spectrum fee-for-obligation and coverage swaps (Peru); and the experiences of rural wholesale operators.

Among the issues that remain problematic in Latin America, Méndez cited the fragmentation of municipal procedures; excessive reporting requirements; the tax burden; and complexity in user registration processes.