Chile’s Supreme Court has rejected plans to allow ClaroVTR to use its 3.5GHz band spectrum for 5G services on the basis that the frequencies must be assigned through a public tender, La Tercera reports. 

ClaroVTR had sought permission from the Department of Telecommunications (Subsecretaria de Telecomunicaciones, Subtel) to use airwaves previously assigned for fixed wireless voice services for 5G. 

Following a consultation with the Antitrust Tribunal (Tribunal de Defensa de la Libre Competencia, TDLC), Subtel granted provisional approval to the telco earlier this year, but the decision was challenged by rival operator WOM, culminating in the recent ruling from the apex court.