Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASUNCION156
2009-03-13 19:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Asuncion
Cable title:
PARAGUAY LIBERATES INTERNET SERVICES
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHAC #0156 0721911 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 131911Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASUNCION TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7678 INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS ASUNCION 000156
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/BSC DASCHBACH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN PGOV EIND ECON EINV ETRD PREL PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY LIBERATES INTERNET SERVICES
UNCLAS ASUNCION 000156
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/BSC DASCHBACH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN PGOV EIND ECON EINV ETRD PREL PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY LIBERATES INTERNET SERVICES
1. (U) Paraguay's National Telecommunications Commission
(CONATEL) approved March 12 the liberalization of Internet
services, ending the monopoly of state-owned
telecommunications operator (COPACO). The measure will
benefit private providers with fiber optic networks, and
consumers will likely see immediate improvements in bandwidth
pricing and services. (NOTE: Two of the three private
telecommunication companies in Paraguay have the necessary
infrastructure to expand their Internet services. END NOTE.)
2. (U) CONATEL, however, postponed the resolution to open the
Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VOIP) market until further
notice. As VOIP popularity grows in Paraguay, CONATEL is
interested in regulating it in a manner similar to the
traditional telephone fixed-line service. (NOTE: The current
VOIP monopoly generates over USD 70 million annually, shared
among a handful of politically linked private operators
licensed by CONATEL. END NOTE).
3. (SBU) COMMENT: While opening up VOIP seems a brige too far
at this time, internet service liberalization is a positive,
and welcome signal from the Lugo administration to the
private sector, as it serves to increase competition,
decrease political influence and improve services in the
sector. END COMMENT.
Please visit us at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/asuncion
AYALDE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/BSC DASCHBACH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN PGOV EIND ECON EINV ETRD PREL PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY LIBERATES INTERNET SERVICES
1. (U) Paraguay's National Telecommunications Commission
(CONATEL) approved March 12 the liberalization of Internet
services, ending the monopoly of state-owned
telecommunications operator (COPACO). The measure will
benefit private providers with fiber optic networks, and
consumers will likely see immediate improvements in bandwidth
pricing and services. (NOTE: Two of the three private
telecommunication companies in Paraguay have the necessary
infrastructure to expand their Internet services. END NOTE.)
2. (U) CONATEL, however, postponed the resolution to open the
Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VOIP) market until further
notice. As VOIP popularity grows in Paraguay, CONATEL is
interested in regulating it in a manner similar to the
traditional telephone fixed-line service. (NOTE: The current
VOIP monopoly generates over USD 70 million annually, shared
among a handful of politically linked private operators
licensed by CONATEL. END NOTE).
3. (SBU) COMMENT: While opening up VOIP seems a brige too far
at this time, internet service liberalization is a positive,
and welcome signal from the Lugo administration to the
private sector, as it serves to increase competition,
decrease political influence and improve services in the
sector. END COMMENT.
Please visit us at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/asuncion
AYALDE