The Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) decided to vote against the draft resolution for Claro Video’s entry into pay television, however América Móvil still has the possibility of requesting a concession for this segment again.
According to a source close to the process, the vote against the project for entry to restricted TV for Claro TV does not mean that the IFT has given a resounding no to Carlos Slim’s company, so now if it decides, it will have to broadcast a new request for a concession to be granted to this segment.
The resolution comes after the IFT developed a study to more clearly analyze the concession for Claro TV. Among the edges of the project was whether or not it is an indirect operation, because Telmex is prohibited from entering this segment due to its concession.
Yesterday, América Móvil assured that if the telecommunications regulatory body granted it the concession,
“We could enter with an investment of 8,000 million pesos in fiber optic expansion, in areas where there are none today, and available so that any participant can use it,” said Carlos Slim Domit, president of the board of directors of América Móvil. during a press conference.
He added that his entry into restricted television with Claro TV will not affect the competition, on the contrary, he assured, it will benefit it and will cause consumers to have more options at a more affordable price.
However, several specialists and companies in the telecommunications industry have pointed out that América Móvil’s entry into the pay television market, whose segment is concentrated by Televisa, will generate more competitive barriers.
For a decade now, América Móvil has been waiting for the IFT to grant it the concession to enter the pay television segment. Last year it reissued a request to offer this service, however, its concession as a telecommunications operator prevents it from accessing this item.
