Secretariat for Modernization of Government Created a "One-Stop Window System" for the Installation of Antennas

On March 29, 2019, the Argentine Secretariat for Modernization of Government (the "SGM", after its Spanish acronym) issued Resolution No. 423/2019 (the "Resolution") which states that the Argentine Communications Agency (the "ENACOM", after its Spanish acronym) will implement a "One-Stop Window System for the Installation of Antenna Support Structures" for the provision of the Mobile Communications Service (“MCS”) within 30 days as of its publication.

The purpose of the Resolution is to implement the system by which licensees of the Information and Communications Technologies Services ("ICT Services") and the Independent Operators of Passive Telecommunications Infrastructure ("OIIP" after its Spanish acronym) will be registered with ENACOM to facilitate authorizations and permits for the location, deployment and installation of telecommunications infrastructure coordinated with the different national, provincial and municipal authorities.

As a reminder, Decree No. 1060/2017 defined the OIIP as any human or legal entity which, without being a provider of ICT Services, owns an aerial, ground or underground infrastructure that provides support to networks for the provision of said services, composed mainly of towers, masts, poles, ducts, fiber optic cables and antennas, among others. Furthermore, the IOPI do not need a license to operate, but must simply inform that they are commencing activities and must also be registered with the ENACOM.

The Resolution establishes that ENACOM must: (i) prepare a standard model rule that contains the general requirements related to the installation of networks and equipment to unify the criteria with the local authorities; (ii) compile a database that contains local regulations (ordinances, laws, etc.) referred to the installation of ICT Services infrastructure -which today does not exist; and (iii) create a database that contains the status of those procedures that were initiated and the locations that facilitate and encourage the installation of telecommunications networks, as well as those that hinder the deployment and execution of works.

Finally, the Resolution clarifies that those interested in registering must make their presentations through the Platform for Distance Procedures ("TAD") informing the characteristics of the infrastructure which is intended to be installed for ENACOM to evaluate it, and issue an "Argentine Authorization for the Installation and Deployment of Infrastructure for the Provision of the SCM".

In addition, ENACOM will issue a certificate to those OIIP  who may request it, stating that they are an OIIP under the terms of Decree No. 1060/2017 to accredit the authority to deploy passive networks to local authorities.