Telecommunication Concessions and Licenses in the Dominican Republic

Estíbaliz Diez, Director Legal & Regulatory, ONEMAX, Dominican Republic

As the world becomes more globalized, the need to expand, to explore new horizons becomes inevitable. Currently, consumers are more aware of new products, latest technologies, gadgets, business... Consumers are more demanding, want to try out new options, be able to compare services and/or products. As a local market becomes saturated, enterprises acknowledge the need to step out of their comfort zone and explore new markets where their products or services are not offered. It is at this point where enterprises explore the possibility of investing in a foreign country, its laws and regulations, its market capacity, among others. In this article I will provide a brief idea of how the telecommunication market regarding services to end users is broken into and provide and a guide to obtaining a telecommunication concession and license in the Dominican Republic, either by obtaining a new Concession and License or by transfer of control.

Estíbaliz Diez, admitted to New York and Dominican Republic Bar, is experienced primarily in telecommunication law, regulatory compliance and corporate issues. Has worked as in-house counsel for principal telecommunication companies in the Dominican Republic. Currently is the Director of Legal & Regulatory in ONEMAX,S.A. and pro-bono mediator.

ONEMAX, S.A., headquartered in Dominican Republic, is a wireless internet service provider (wisp). Additionally, ONEMAX provides voice services through a WiMAX 16e standard network, virtual servers, fixed IPs, VPN, among others.