Mexico: Regulator to launch 148 TV channels in open contest

Mexico’s telecommunications regulator, IFT, and its Radio-electric Spectrum unit, have kicked off the public consultation process for their bidding scheme which will offer 148 new digital land-based TV frequencies. The regulator expects that companies bidding for the 148 channels should be able to select each of them individually, foregoing ‘bundles’ of channels.

“In order to provide greater flexibility to participants, they will be able to select the desired channels individually, as they will not be grouped together by regions”, explained the IFT’s announcement.

The regulator has added that, in terms of competition, they would propose a limit of 6 MHz for any location. The IFT has also proposed granting a bonus incentive of 10% to any bidding agent who fails to cover at least 15% of the population nationwide. The bidding is expected to begin sometime in the second half of 2017, according to the approved calendar.

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