Third mobile operator tender receives no proposals; ASEP evaluates a second call

Panama's effort to introduce a third mobile operator has stalled, with the public tender receiving no bids during the pre-qualification stage. The National Public Services Authority (ASEP) is now evaluating the possibility of launching a second bidding process.

The tender, Public Tender No. 01-2026-Telco, sought to grant a concession for Personal Communications Service No. 106 (PCS) nationwide. Alkin Saucedo, ASEP's national director of Telecommunications, confirmed that no companies submitted proposals on the scheduled date. "This morning we did not receive any proposals, and what proceeds now is the review of the pre-qualification documents and determining whether we call for a second pre-qualification round in search of that third mobile cellular telephone operator in Panama," Saucedo stated.

The concession aims to enhance mobile services in a market experiencing sustained growth in data consumption and demand for higher-capacity telecommunications. The potential new operator would have the opportunity to deploy a 5G Stand Alone (SA) architecture from the outset. This is supported by existing national infrastructure that already provides mobile coverage to approximately 96% of the population, with about 86% having access to 4G networks.

Panama currently has over five million active mobile lines, exceeding 100% population penetration. Prepaid users account for nearly 79% of the total, while the postpaid segment represents 21%. Authorities attribute this trend to the country's economic dynamism and user preference for avoiding fixed contracts. The failure to attract bidders raises questions about the market conditions or the terms of the tender itself, prompting ASEP to reconsider its approach.

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This morning we did not receive any proposals, and what proceeds now is the review of the pre-qualification documents and determining whether we call for a second pre-qualification round in search of that third mobile cellular telephone operator in Panama.