Telmex expansion plans run into regulatory problems

According to local press reports quoted by BNamericas, Telmex’s plan for national triple-play coverage in Colombia has run into regulatory obstacles after the state counsel ruled that cablecos cannot expand their coverage beyond the areas stipulated by the terms of their original concession licences. The ruling overrules a decree issued by the country’s television regulatory CNTV that initially permitted expansion. The counsel stated that CNTV has no legal basis on which to allow seven cable TV operators, including three owned by Telmex, to expand coverage. Telmex has acquired or agreed to acquire five Colombian operators with concession licences for different areas of the country. However, the ruling by the state counsel means that the telco is unable to consolidate the operators into one operation.