Chilean mobile operator WOM (formerly Nextel Chile) will not be granted access to the 700 MHz band, acording to Chilean telecoms regulator Subtel.

Securing spectrum in the 700 MHz band had been one of the objectives of UK-based investment fund Novator since it acquired Nextel Chile (later rebranded as WOM) in January. However, blocks had already been allocated and any subsequent release of spectrum would have to be assigned via tender. “In the hypothetical event we decided that part of the spectrum of the emergency network might be reallocated to a company we would have to launch a public tender, as has been done with the 2600 MHz and 700 MHz bands, with all companies participating, not only WOM,”