Paraguay irked by DirecTV
June 11, 2015
By Chris Forrester
US broadcasting giant DirecTV is perhaps otherwise engaged with the proposed take-over by AT&T of its assets, and maybe has forgotten all about its Latino activity in Paraguay.
DirecTV has applied to Paraguay’s Conatel regulator to renew its DTH transmission license in the country. The license has been in place since 2011, but as yet no service has been started. Local reports suggest that “technical issues” have held up DirecTV’s plans for the country, but the regulator is pointing out that no start date has been given.
Viewers wanting satellite TV are buying grey market imported dishes and set-top boxes from Argentina.
This is also upsetting the regulator. Conatel’s president, Mr Eduardo Gonzalas told local press that other “interested parties” might come into play, not least Millicom’s Tigo service, which already operates an official cable supply service in Paraguay. Millicom has been waiting two years for its application for a DTH licence to be approved.