RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE S/GBT/W/1/Add.4
15January 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-0129)
Original: Spanish Group onBasic Telecommunications
COMMUNICATION FROM BOLIVIA
Draft Offer onBasic Telecommunications
Theattached communication iscirculated attherequest ofBolivia toMembers oftheGroup
onBasic Telecommunications.BOLIVIA -OFFER ONBASIC TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICESS/GBT/W/1/Add.4
Page2
Modes ofsupply: (1) Cross-border supply (2) Consumption abroad (3) Commercial presence (4) Presence ofnatural persons
Sector orsubsector Limitations onmarket access Limitations onnational treatment Additional commitments
2CTelecommunications
services
Domestic long-distance service
means switched ordedicated
public services provided to
another person orpersons
other thantheservice supplier
including switched and/or
dedicated voice, data, message
orvideo communication
services provided bytelephone
lines, channel transmission
cables, microwaves, satellites,
radio frequencies oranyother
technology.(1)None after 27November 2001
[Explanation: ENTEL hasbeen granted an
exclusive contract forsixyears toprovide
national andinternational long-distance
telecommunications services (excluding
mobile telecommunications services such as
cellular services), andcall-back for
international voice services isprohibited.]
(2)None(1)None
(2)None
(3)Commercial presence required
(4)NoneTheBolivian Government
hasadopted additional
commitments assetoutin
theAnnex.
International long-distance
service means switched or
dedicated public services
including voice, data, message
orvideo services supplied by
telephone lineoranyother
technology between anarea
within thenational territory
andanother areaabroad.Modes ofsupply: (1) Cross-border supply (2) Consumption abroad (3) Commercial presence (4) Presence ofnatural persons
Sector orsubsector Limitations onmarket access Limitations onnational treatment Additional commitments
Local telecommunicationsS/GBT/W/1/Add.4
Page3service means theservice
supplied between subscribers
connected tothepublic
network through fixed terminal
equipment andlocated within a
specific geographical area
providing real-time switched
voice communications.(1)None after 27November 2001
(2)[Explanation: 16local telecommunications
cooperatives have obtained exclusive
contracts forthesupply oflocal
telecommunications services]
[Note: Bolivia hasnorestrictions on
foreign ownership inthebasic
telecommunications sector]
Mobile basic
telecommunications services
areservices provided byland
stations withmobile terminal
equipment using the
electromagnetic spectrum,
including cellular services,
mobile dataservices, radio
determination andradio
navigation, paging services,
personal communications
services (PCS), mobile
satellite services, dispatch
services.(1)Norestriction onthesupply ofthese
services, subject tospectrum availability.S/GBT/W/1/Add.4
Page4
ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS BYTHE GOVERNMENT OFBOLIVIA
Thefollowing aredefinitions andprinciples ontheregulatory framework forthebasic
telecommunications services:
Service supplier: Anatural orlegalperson supplying telecommunications services tothepublic.
Personal communications service: Amobile basic digital telecommunications service using
micro-cells inthe1.8GHzto2.1GHzfrequency band.
Public telecommunications services: Switched, dedicated, broadcast ordistributed
telecommunications services provided toanatural orlegalperson orpersons other thantheservice
supplier. Thetermalsoincludes resale services andservices supplied byacollective legalperson to
itspartners, associates ormembers when itsbusiness purpose istoprovide telecommunication services.
Itdoesnotinclude value-added services.
Local telecommunications service: Theservice provided between subscribers connected to
thepublic network through fixed terminal equipment andlocated within aspecific geographical area
defined assuch bytheTelecommunications Authority. Itisused toprovide fixed basic
telecommunications services thatarewire-based orusing specific electromagnetic frequencies forthe
service.
Domestic long-distance service: Apublic service supplied between switching exchanges located
within different localtelecommunications service areas within thenational territory.
Internationallong-distanceservice:Apublicservicesuppliedbetweenanareawithinthenational
territory andanareaabroad.
Basic telecommunications services: Fixed basictelecommunications services andmobile basic
telecommunications services.
Fixed basic telecommunications services: Services supplying real-time switched voice
communications between public network users using fixedterminal equipment, evenwhen transmitted
indigital form.
Mobile basic telecommunications services: Services provided bylandstations withmobile
orportable terminal equipment using specific radio frequency bands tosupply real-time switched voice
communications between public network users.
Call-back services: Services originating within thecountry which make itpossible byanymeans
toobtain adialling toneoraccess toapublic network located outside thenational territory inorder
tomake along-distance communication recorded asacalloriginating inthatnetwork. Services where
thereisaspecific agreement signed byaconcessionaire authorized toprovide international long-distance
services andapproved bytheTelecommunications Authority arenotconsidered tofallwithin such
services.S/GBT/W/1/Add.4
Page5
1. Competitive safeguards
1.1 Prevention ofanti-competitive practices intelecommunications
Appropriate measures shallbemaintained forthepurpose ofpreventing suppliers, alone
orasdominant suppliers, from engaging inanti-competitive practices.
1.2 Theanti-competitive practices referred toabove shallinclude:
(a) Engaging inanti-competitive cross-subsidization;
(b) Using information obtained fromcompetitors withanti-competitive results and
notmaking toother services suppliers onatimely basistechnical information
about essential facilities andcommercially relevant information which is
necessary forthem toprovide services.
2. Interconnection
Public service operators areobliged toensure interconnection.
3. Public availability oflicensing criteria
Where licences arerequired, thefollowing willbemade publicly available:
(a) Thelicensing criteria andtheperiod oftimenormally required toreach a
decision concerning anapplication foralicence; and
(b) theterms andconditions ofindividual licences.
Thereasons forthedenial ofalicence willbemade known totheapplicant.
4. Independent regulatory authority
Theregulatory body shallbeseparate from thebasic telecommunications services suppliers.
Thedecisions ofandtheprocedures usedbytheregulator shallbeimpartial withrespect to
allmarket operators.
5. Allocation anduseofscarce resources
Anyprocedures fortheallocation anduseofscarce resources, including frequencies, numbers
andrights ofway,willbecarried outinanobjective, timely, transparent andnon-discriminatory
manner.
Frequency bands willbeallocated bytender inapublic andtransparent manner.