<strong>-Convergencialatina: What can be expected from the 13th Latin American Spectrum Management Conference, to be held in Costa Rica in September?

-Alejandro Herrera (AH): Spectrum management is highly relevant to us. In Comtelca’s new strategic plan, which covers 2026 to 2029, we have an entire strategic pillar focused on efficient spectrum management, identifying unused spectrum and harmonizing our national frequency allocation plans.

We actively participate in the Inter-American Telecommunications Commission (Comisión Interamericana de Telecomunicaciones, CITEL)’s CCP II as part of a strategy to make an initiative that many of us support a reality: reaching the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference in Shanghai as a Central American bloc to establish common positions on spectrum matters.

This spectrum management conference helps us stay abreast of these issues, prepare for world conferences and ensure that Comtelca member countries are as up to date as possible so that, while maintaining their sovereignty, they can make their own decisions on spectrum.

-Convergencialatina: What challenges must be overcome for Central American countries to form a bloc with a common position ahead of WRC-27, taking into account each country’s sovereignty?

-AH: As an international organization, we maintain a neutral position. However, our most relevant challenge is to maintain constant dialogue and avoid becoming disconnected. Our committees replicate the ITU’s structure. We have a standardization committee, a development committee and a Radiocommunications Committee. With the latter, we are seeking to make it a permanent forum for dialogue among Comtelca countries, where we can interact and achieve greater spectrum harmonization in our national frequency allocation plans, whether for mobile, satellite or any emerging technologies. The idea is to maintain constant dialogue and achieve harmonization.

-Convergencialatina: What is the current state of spectrum harmonization for D2D?

-AH: At Comtelca, we constantly monitor ITU world conferences, as the organization responsible for telecommunications matters. Along those lines, we seek to bring information from the world conferences to the participating countries. We promote dialogue so that they can harmonize their national frequency allocation plans as much as possible.

I would say that spectrum harmonization in this segment is currently well advanced across the different countries. Mobile operators have been able to deploy networks across the region, despite the different regulatory aspects specific to each country, and at the spectrum level, we are using practically the same spectrum bands.

There is spectrum for LTE, the 700 MHz band; there is the classic 2G spectrum, which several operators have gradually been shutting down; we have spectrum at 1,900 MHz, and we are now allocating the 3.5 GHz and 2.5 GHz bands for the evolution to 5G. Satellite is a different story.

-Convergencialatina: Why?

-AH: Because satellite issues, particularly D2D and non-terrestrial networks, will be discussed and finalized at WRC-27. The issue could not be resolved at WRC-23. Along those lines, some countries have made decisions, while others are waiting to see what happens.

The good thing is that 100% of Comtelca member countries are following ITU international recommendations.

-Convergencialatina: There was a discussion about the 6 GHz band at WRC-23. How is this particular band being allocated in the different Comtelca countries?

-AH: Regarding that band, some countries were waiting to see how things developed. A forum was recently held in Panama to discuss this issue, with many stakeholders invited to present their positions from the perspective of operators, suppliers and other interested parties. There is no full harmonization regarding this band, but it is an issue that remains under discussion.

The positive aspect is that most countries have been in the process of clearing the band, which would allow them to make a decision on its allocation, whether entirely to one type of service or on a shared basis.

-Convergencialatina: What progress has been made on the use of higher-frequency bands, such as 26 GHz, which was designated for 5G services?

-AH: It depends on the use cases each country has for those bands, but it is a band that has been fully identified and allocated for this type of service.

-Convergencialatina: How is the regulatory landscape evolving in the Comtelca area?

-AH: Our strategic plan also covers other areas, including meaningful connectivity, resilient infrastructure and regulatory improvement. On that front, we are seeking to harmonize and periodically review our national frequency allocation plans, with a focus on agility and keeping pace with the evolution we are seeing. Countries are aware and very willing to have somewhat more agile regulators, particularly because technology is not waiting for us. We are working on a set of recommendations for regulators so that reviews are conducted periodically, at shorter intervals than every three years or more.