RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE S/GBT/W/1/Add.46
14February 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-0714)
Original: Spanish Group onBasic Telecommunications
COMMUNICATION FROM COLOMBIA
Schedule ofCommitments onBasic Telecommunications
Thefollowing communication iscirculated attherequest ofColombia tomembers oftheGroup
onBasic Telecommunications.
_______________
Colombia submits totheGroup onBasic Telecommunications adraftSchedule ofSpecific
Commitments, which doesnotextend toradio andtelevision broadcasting services. Although our
Schedule doesnotusethephrase "subject toavailability offrequency", byvirtue oftheChairman 's
Note, document S/GBT/W/3 of3February 1997, Colombia considers thatithasfullauthority tomanage
andadminister itsfrequencies, inaccordance withtheNational Frequency Table andavailability.
ThisNoteistoberegardedasforminganintegralpartoftheScheduleofSpecificCommitments.SCHEDULE OFCOMMITMENTS ONBASIC COMMUNICATIONSS/GBT/W/1/Add.46
Page 2
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
2.C. TELECOMMUNICATIONS
SERVICESTheannexed Reference Paper is
adopted, withthenotes and
reservations indicated.
Allsectors Thesupply oftelecommunications services in
Colombia requires alicence orconcession
from theregulatory body. Thelicence or
concession isonlygranted toenterprises
legally setupinColombia.
1.Forpublic use,exclusively
facilities-based services
Local andextended local voice
telephony1(1)None
(2)None
(3)Foreign investment ispermitted uptoa
maximum of70% ofthecapital ofthe
enterprise licensed tooperate.
(4)Unbound, except asindicated by
horizontal commitments(1)None
(2)None
(3)None
(4)Unbound, except asindicated
byhorizontal commitments
1"Extended local" voice telephony (departmental orregional telephony) istheservice supplied bythesame operator tousers inacontinuous geographical areaconsisting
ofadjacent municipalities, provided theareadoes notgooutside thatoftheDepartment.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
National andinternational long-S/GBT/W/1/Add.46
Page 3distance telephonyLong-distance traffic must berouted through
operators licensed toprovide along-distance
telephone service. Deliberate inversion ofthe
genuine direction ofinternational traffic (call-
back) isnotallowed.
(1)None
(2)None
(3)Foreign investment ispermitted uptoa
maximum of70% ofthecapital ofthe
enterprise licensed tooperate
National andinternational long-distance
services areprovided bytheNational
Telecommunications Enterprise. Any
additional number ofoperators willbe
determined byaneconomic needs test.(1)None
(2)None
(3)None
(4)Unbound, except asindicated by
horizontal commitments.(4)Unbound, except asindicated
inthehorizontal commitments.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
Carrier servicesS/GBT/W/1/Add.46
Page 4
Packet-switched datatransmission
services
Circuit-switched datatransmission
services
Telex services
Telegraph servicesCarrier services2mayonlybesupplied by
operators dulyauthorized toengage insuch
activities ortoprovide therelevant services
inColombia.
Theauthorization tosupply carrier services
does notinvolve aconcession tosupply other
telecommunications services.
(1)None
(2)None(1)None
(2)None
(3)Foreign investment ispermitted uptoa
maximum of70% ofthecapital ofthe
enterprise licensed tooperate.(3)None
(4)Unbound, except asindicated inthe
horizontal commitments.(4)Unbound, except asindicated
byhorizontal commitments.
Cellular mobile telephone services
(800 MHz band)(1)None
(2)None(1)None
(2)None
2Carrier service isaservice providing thenecessary capacity totransmit signals between twoormore specific points onthetelecommunications network. Thiscovers
services through circuit- orpacket-switched networks andthrough non-switched networks.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 commitmentsS/GBT/W/1/Add.46
Page 5(3)Forthecellular mobile telephone service
thecountry wasdivided intothree
regions; ineach onetheservice is
supplied bytwocompeting operators, on
anexclusive basis until
1September 1999. Thereafter, the
additional number ofoperators shall be
subject totechnological possibility.3
Private licensed companies must be
established asopen corporations, in
other words, nonatural orlegal person
may, alone orthrough another person,
holdmore than30% ofthecompany
share capital andtheshares must be
listed inastock exchange inColombia.(3)None
Foreign investment ispermitted uptoa
maximum of70% ofthecapital ofthe
enterprise licensed tooperate.
(4)Unbound, except asindicated by
horizontal commitments.(4)Unbound, except asindicated
byhorizontal commitments.
3Technological possibility refers totherelevant clause contained incurrent concession contracts forcellular mobile telephone services.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
Personal Communications services
(PCs)(1)None
(2)None
(3)ThePersonal Communications service
willbesupplied asfrom
31December 1999 byanumber of
operators determined byaneconomic
needs test.
Foreign investment ispermitted uptoa
maximum of70percentofthecapital of
theenterprise licensed tooperate.(1)None
(2)None
(3)NoneS/GBT/W/1/Add.46
Page 6
(4)Unbound, except asindicated by
horizontal commitments.(4)Unbound, except asindicated
byhorizontal commitments.
Paging services (900 MHz band) (1)Unbound
(2)None
(3)Thenumber ofoperators tosupply two-
waypaging services willbedetermined
notlater than30June 1997.
Foreign investment ispermitted uptoa
maximum of70percentofthecapital of
theenterprise licensed tooperate.(1)None
(2)None
(3)None
(4)Unbound, except asindicated by
horizontal commitments.(4)Unbound, except asindicated
byhorizontal commitments.S/GBT/W/1/Add.46
Page7
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
Trunking, facilities-based (1)None
(2)None
(3)Thenational trunking service willbe
supplied byfouroperators selected by
competitive bidding, notlater than
30June 1997.
Foreign investment ispermitted uptoa
maximum of70% ofthecapital ofthe
enterprise licensed tooperate.(1)None
(2)None
(3)NoneS/GBT/W/1/Add.46
Page 7(4)Unbound, except asindicated by
horizontal commitments.(4)Unbound, except asindicated
byhorizontal commitments.
Provision ofsatellite capacity,
exclusively bygeostationary
satellite systemsAuthorizations toprovide satellite capacity do
notinvolve aconcession tosupply
telecommunications services inColombia or
inconnections withforeign countries, oran
authorization toengage intelecommunications
activities ortoinstall oroperate
telecommunications networks.
(1)None
(2)None
(3)Foreign investment ispermitted uptoa
maximum of70% ofthecapital ofthe
enterprise licensed tooperate.
(4)Unbound, except asindicated by
horizontal commitments.(1)None
(2)None
(3)None
(4)Unbound, except asindicated
byhorizontal commitments.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
2.Fornon-public use,facilities-S/GBT/W/1/Add.46
Page 8
based (Relates totheprivate
telecommunications network,
established bynatural orlegal
persons fortheir private and
exclusive use,without
provision ofservices tothird
persons andwithout
connection totheState
telecommunications network
ortoother private
telecommunications networks)
Voice telephone services
Packet-switched datatransmission
Circuit-switched datatransmission
Private leased circuit services
Paging services
Trunking services(1)None
(2)None
(3)None
(4)Unbound, except asindicated by
horizontal commitments.(1)None
(2)None
(3)None
(4)Unbound, except asindicated
byhorizontal commitments.S/GBT/W/1/Add.46
Page9
ANNEX
Reference Paper
Theadditionalcommitmentsappearinginthisscheduleapplytobasictelecommunicationsservices
where specific commitments areundertaken.
Scope
Thefollowing aredefinitions andprinciples ontheregulatory framework forthebasic
telecommunications services.
Definitions
Users mean service consumers.
Essential facilities mean facilities ofapublic telecommunications transport network orservice
that:
(a) Areexclusively orpredominantly provided byasingle orlimited number ofsuppliers;
and
(b) cannot feasibly beeconomically ortechnically substituted inorder toprovide aservice.
Amajor supplier isasupplier which hastheability tomaterially affect theterms ofparticipation
(having regard toprice andsupply) intherelevant market forbasic telecommunications services as
aresult of:
(a) Control overessential facilities; or
(b) useofitsposition inthemarket.
1. Competitive safeguards
1.1 Prevention ofanti-competitive practices intelecommunications
Appropriate measures shallbemaintained forthepurpose ofpreventing suppliers who, alone
ortogether, areamajor supplier from engaging inorcontinuing anti-competitive practices.
1.2 Safeguards
Theanti-competitive practices referred toabove shallinclude inparticular:
(a) Engaging inanti-competitive cross-subsidization;1
(b) using information obtained from competitors withanti-competitive results; and
(c) notmaking available toother services suppliers onatimely basistechnical information
about essential facilities andcommercially relevant information which arenecessary
forthem toprovide services.
1TheColombian State reserves theright tomaintain subsidies among different strata ofoneandthesame
service.S/GBT/W/1/Add.46
Page10
2. Interconnection
2.1 Thissection applies tolinking withsuppliers providing public telecommunications transport
networks orservices inorder toallow theusers ofonesupplier tocommunicate withusers ofanother
supplierandtoaccessservicesprovidedbyanothersupplier,wherespecificcommitmentsareundertaken.
2.2 Interconnection tobeensured
Interconnection withamajor supplier willbeensured atanytechnically feasible point inthe
network.2Such connection isprovided:
(a) Under non-discriminatory terms, conditions (including technical standards and
specifications) andratesandofaquality nolessfavourable thanthatprovided forits
ownlikeservices orforlikeservices ofnon-affiliated service suppliers orforits
subsidiaries orother affiliates;
(b) inatimely fashion, onterms, conditions (including technical standards and
specifications) andcost-oriented ratesthataretransparent, reasonable, having regard
toeconomic feasibility, andsufficiently unbundled sothatthesupplier neednotpay
fornetwork components orfacilities thatitdoesnotrequire fortheservice tobe
provided; and
(c) upon request, atpoints inaddition tothenetwork termination points offered tothe
majority ofusers, subject tocharges thatreflect thecostofconstruction ofnecessary
additional facilities.
2.3 Public availability oftheprocedures forinterconnection negotiations
Theproceduresapplicableforinterconnectiontoamajorsupplierwillbemadepubliclyavailable.
2.4 Transparency ofinterconnection arrangements
Itisensured thatamajor supplier willmake publicly available either itsinterconnection
agreements orareference interconnection offer.
2.5 Interconnection: dispute settlement
Aservice supplier requesting interconnection withamajor supplier willhaverecourse, either:
(a) Atanytime; or
(b) afterareasonable period oftimewhich hasbeenmade publicly known
toanindependent domestic body, which maybearegulatory bodyasreferred toinparagraph 5below,
toresolve disputes regarding appropriate terms, conditions andrates forinterconnection within a
reasonable period oftime, totheextent thatthese havenotbeenestablished previously.3
2Whenarequestismadetothemajorsupplier(operator)oranyexistingtelecommunicationsservicesoperator
forinterconnection atapoint different from theoneproposed bythem, theyshall have theright torequire the
newoperator topaythecostcaused bythatdecision. Intheevent ofadispute concerning thepoint of
interconnection, theregulatory body mayruleonthedispute andallocate costs inthelightoftherelevant rules
andofequitable andobjective criteria.
3Thisitemisadopted ontheunderstanding that"independent domestic body" refers tothebody determined
byColombian law.S/GBT/W/1/Add.46
Page11
3. Universal service
AnyMemberhastherighttodefinethekindofuniversalserviceobligationitwishestomaintain.
Such obligations willnotberegarded asanti-competitive perse,provided theyareadministered in
atransparent, non-discriminatory andcompetitively neutral manner andarenotmore burdensome than
necessary forthekindofuniversal service defined bytheMember.
4. Public availability oflicensing criteria
Where alicence isrequired, thefollowing willbemade publicly available:
(a) Allthelicensing criteria andtheperiod oftimenormally required toreach adecision
concerning anapplication foralicence; and
(b) theterms andconditions ofindividual licences.
Thereasons forthedenial ofalicence willbemade known totheapplicant upon request.
5. Independent regulators
Thedecisions ofandtheprocedures usedbyregulators shallbeimpartial withrespect toall
market participants.
6. Allocation anduseofscarce resources
Anyprocedures fortheallocation anduseofscarce resources, including frequencies, numbers
andrightsofway,willbecarriedoutinanobjective4,timely,transparentandnon-discriminatorymanner.
Thecurrent stateofallocated frequency bands willbemade publicly available, butdetailed identification
offrequencies allocated forspecific government usesisnotrequired.
4"Objective" means thatallocation andusedepend onavailability andthenational frequency table.