To promote competition in communication services markets within Colombia, the Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) has introduced regulatory provisions. These focus on the backbone market of fixed Internet service through which data transmission occurs between municipalities.
The Commission emphasized that this backbone service is essential for providing broadband and digital services across all regions of Colombia. The service includes operators that offer data transport capacity using technologies such as fiber optics, satellite, or microwave. These technologies enable users to access fixed Internet in their homes and workplaces.
With the issuance of Resolution 7156 of 2023, the CRC identified 170 municipalities facing market failures related to the backbone service. This identification will facilitate a more focused approach involving regulation and public policy in the future. It aims to enhance connectivity in rural, remote, and hard-to-reach areas and will enable a detailed analysis in the second phase. This analysis will assess the appropriateness of adopting specific regulatory measures to address the identified competition issues.
Nicolás Silva Cortés, Commissioner and Executive Director of CRC, said: “With the implementation of this decision, the Commission contributes to the efforts undertaken by the national government to bridge the digital divide in the country.”