The Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel) says a tender is called for the six-year contracts for the deployment, operation, marketing, maintenance and updating of networks.
Overall, 10 lots are on offer and companies may bid for more than one. The 23 municipalities included in the lots previously approved ordinances to enable infrastructure deployment.
The bids must offer fiber to the home using GPON technology where feasible. The companies can avail themselves of the poles serviced by the government electric power company Edesur. Likewise, the government ETED company provides seven nodes of the national fiber optics network.
The tender requires download speed of 15Mbps must be provided to rural outposts, local administrations and primary care centers, and 40Mbps download and 10Mbps upload speeds for hospitals and schools. Services must involve unlimited capacity and be free for the institution.
In addition, social plans must be offered with at least 10Mbps download and 1Mbps upload speeds, also with unlimited capacity, for 299 pesos (US$5.50) per month.
Indotel is taking actions to improve digital services in the south, part of a US$115 million loan approved in 2021 by the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB).
The project finances investments to expand broadband infrastructure, including the expansion of backbone, aggregation and access networks in order to improve connectivity for the country’s citizens.
The IDB project is improving broadcasting services, paving the way for transitioning from analog to digital television and enhancing digital abilities and competencies.
Read more in Spanish:
Indotel
IADB
BN Americas
8 May 2023