Colombia’s Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies (MinTIC) has fined Telecall Colombia more than COP $7.4 billion for failing to meet two administrative obligations linked to its 5G spectrum assignment, while maintaining the company’s commitments to expand connectivity across the country.

Telecall was one of the winners of Colombia’s December 2023 5G spectrum auction. Through the process established under Resolution 3947 of 2023, the company secured an 80 MHz block in the 3500 MHz band, a key frequency for next-generation mobile networks, after submitting a bid of COP $318.3 billion.

The spectrum permit, granted through Resolution 498 of February 23, 2024, authorized Telecall to use the assigned spectrum for 20 years. As part of the agreement, the company accepted a series of investment and coverage obligations designed to support Colombia’s digital inclusion goals.

These commitments include deploying mobile infrastructure along road corridors, providing fiber-optic connectivity to 343 educational institutions, and expanding mobile infrastructure progressively in capital cities and municipalities with populations exceeding 200,000 people.

“The decision does not modify the essential conditions of the spectrum assignment nor reduce the obligations the operator assumed.” – Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies (MinTIC)

MinTIC identified two breaches during its compliance monitoring process: the delayed payment of the first installment of the economic consideration associated with the spectrum assignment and the failure to submit required performance and third-party civil liability guarantees.

The ministry initiated administrative proceedings through Resolutions 05035 and 05033 of 2024. After initial decisions issued in January 2025, Telecall filed requests for reconsideration and appeals.

Following the appeals process, MinTIC determined that any potential termination of the permit would need to follow the formal sanctioning procedure established under Colombia’s Administrative Procedure and Administrative Litigation Code and Law 1341 of 2009, ensuring the company’s right to due process.

The ministry later opened sanctioning proceeding BDI-11784-2026 through Resolution 107 of March 6, 2026. During the process, Telecall completed the outstanding requirements that had triggered the investigation.

The company paid the pending spectrum consideration installment, representing 13% of the economic obligation and including the applicable adjustment, for approximately COP $46.9 billion on March 25, 2026. It also submitted the required performance and civil liability guarantees on March 27, which were reviewed and approved by MinTIC on May 13.

However, the subsequent compliance did not eliminate responsibility for the earlier delays. After completing the administrative process, the Directorate of Surveillance, Inspection and Control issued Resolution 02044 on May 29, 2026, imposing a fine of COP $7.42 billion. The decision became final on June 11, 2026.

To protect the continuity of the infrastructure rollout, MinTIC later issued Resolution 02199 on June 16, 2026, adjusting the timeline for Telecall’s spectrum performance obligations.

The adjustment does not alter the core terms of the spectrum assignment. According to MinTIC, the permit duration, economic consideration, payment obligations, coverage commitments, school connectivity requirements, mobile infrastructure targets, and digital divide objectives remain unchanged.

Headline image: Mauricio Lizcano announcing the inclusion of 5G in Colombia. (Photo shared by MinTic)

“With the bill we have a stronger connectivity plan that allows us to prioritize many more regions that we would not be able to reach. Today, we are structuring the auction of the two most important bands of Colombian spectrum, those of 700 and 1900 MHz. Those two bands will be auctioned this year and thanks to the project, the impact will be much greater, ” said the minister.

Constain explained that the 700 MHz band is the frequency range most suitable for reaching the rural areas of Colombia’s deep interior, where connectivity will enhance the way of life and the economy of the families that live in those places.

Although last week the ICT ministry released the results of a report confirming the presence of mobile internet in every municipal capital of the country, “the truth is that if we go outside of Inírida we no longer have connectivity . However, the solutions will arrive in the country next year, when we will begin to see the impact in the regions, including in the indigenous areas,” said Constain.

Constain assured that additional locations to receive internet connectivity will be announced by the government soon. Meanwhile, she indicated that the ICT ministry continues with its project to provide internet connectivity to unconnected schools and other educational facilities. She announced the existence of a new access point in the local José Celestino Moreno School, in the indigenous community of Remanso, and that the deployment of digital television infrastructure for Inírida will arrive before the end of July 2019.