Gov't calls off telecom bidding, grants contract to state-run company

Planning Minister Julio De Vido announced that the government has rejected the proposals made by bidders seeking to gain a public contract to manage up to 25 percent of the 3G telecommunications frequency nationwide.

De Vido referred to Claro communications company as “the only bidder that met all capital conditions”, but also explained that the national government “is through with monopolies, so we decided not to give the contract to one company only.

Thus, we have decided to call off the bidding since the government considered that bidders did not meet the minimum requirements.”

Likewise, De Vido explained that state-run satellite and communications company ARSAT will exploit the on-bid frequencies until the government sets everything for “another public open bidding”

In addition to nextel, bidders were Nextel, Multitrunk (a company of the Roggio Group), Telecom, and Superfone (from the Vila-Manzano Group).