Wom continues working to complete the deployment of its 5G network in the country. This Wednesday, September 30, the company was due to meet another deadline imposed in an agreement with the State Defense Council (CDE) last year. By the end of the ninth month of the year, the telecommunications firm was required to deliver 90% of the project; however, it submitted nearly 40 force majeure requests in this regard. "We have delivered the technical documentation required by Subtel to certify the state of progress of the 5G infrastructure deployment projected as of September 30. We will remain focused on the work scheduled for December 31, while construction handovers take place and the force majeure cases reported to the authority are analyzed," Wom said in this regard. "Now, the Telecommunications Undersecretariat (Subtel) must consolidate the results of the inspections, complete the analysis and resolution of the force majeure requests submitted by Wom and, on that basis, determine the actual fulfillment of the transaction for each frequency band," the authority responded in turn. "This final evaluation, which is projected for the week of October 20, will make it possible to establish the corresponding proportional fulfillment percentages and determine, considering the guarantees associated with each band, whether any charge is eventually warranted and for what amount," Subtel added. What the company risksJust over a year ago, Wom and the CDE reached an agreement to finally settle the company's schedule for completing the deployment of its 5G network, which had an official deadline of October 2023, and the monetary penalties for the delay. The company had to pay a fine of US$14 million. By December 31, 2025, it was required to deliver the works for the 366 mandatory locations of the 5G network, which were completed on time, and by September, 90% of the total project. With this, by December 2026 Wom had to complete the remaining 10% of the deployment. "Failure to comply with the conditions agreed in this agreement implies not only the collection of the new guarantees, but also the immediate initiation of a revocation proceeding for the concession and, with it, the loss of the spectrum assigned to Wom to develop its 5G project and its return to the State," Subtel explained when the agreement between Wom and the CDE was announced. As previously stated by the Telecommunications Undersecretary, Romina Garrido, before the Senate's Transport and Telecommunications Committee, there are currently guarantees worth 211,000 UF (nearly US$9 million) that are valid until January 18, 2027. It is with respect to this amount that the authority must determine a potential charge for non-compliance. Are you already a subscriber? Log inThis article is exclusive to subscribersSubscribe to read it in full and access all our journalism. View plansNEWSLETTERPulso PMMonday to Friday, 12:30 PMThe most relevant news on markets, companies and business: timely information, context and content to make better decisions. By subscribing you are accepting the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policies of La Tercera.