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PARAGUAY

Since March 2013

Pillar Domestic data policies  |  Indicator Minimum period for data retention
Law No. 4868 on Electronic Commerce (Ley No. 4868 de Comercio Electrónico)
According to Art. 10 of Law No. 4868, intermediary service providers and data service providers shall store the connection and traffic data generated during the established communication for at least six months.
Coverage Intermediary service providers and data service providers

PARAGUAY

Since November 2002

Pillar Domestic data policies  |  Indicator Minimum period for data retention
Resolution No. 1350, which Establishes the Mandatory Registration of Call Details for a Period of Six Months (Resolución No. 1350, por la cual se establece la obligatoriedad de registro de detalles de llamadas por el plazo de seis meses)
According to Art. 1 of Resolution No. 1350, telephone service providers shall store a detailed call log of all Paraguayan users for a period of six months.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

PARAGUAY

Since September 2024, last amended in March 2025

Pillar Domestic data policies  |  Indicator Minimum period for data retention
Resolution No. 2583/2024, establishing the obligation for all Internet access and data transmission service licensees to keep connection records (Resolución No. 2583/2024, por la cual se establece la obligatoriedad para todos los licenciatarios de servicios de acceso a Internet y transmisión de datos de conservar los registros de conexion)
In accordance with Arts. 1-3 of Resolution No. 2583/2024 of the National Telecommunications Commission (CONATEL), which establishes the obligation for all Internet Access and Data Transmission Service licensees to retain connection records, such licensees must keep connection logs for each subscriber for a minimum period of six months, including the data necessary to identify the subscriber. The Resolution further requires licensees to store for a minimum period of six months, for each connection made by the subscriber, including the assigned IP address and, where network address translation (NAT) is used, the TCP/UDP ports employed and the date and time of the IP communication, together with the identification of the subscriber to whom the service is contracted.
Coverage Internet access and data transmission services

PARAGUAY

Since November 2025, entry into force in November 2027

Pillar Domestic data policies  |  Indicator Requirement to perform a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) or have a data protection officer (DPO)
Law No. 7593 on the Protection of Personal Data in the Republic of Paraguay (Ley No. 7593 de Protección de Datos Personales en la República del Paraguay)
According to Arts. 14 and 15 of Law No. 7593/25 on Personal Data Protection in the Republic of Paraguay, the controller must carry out a data protection impact assessment (DPIA) before any processing operation that, by its nature, scope, context or purposes, is likely to pose significant risks to data subjects’ rights. A DPIA is mandatory where:
(a) there is a systematic and comprehensive evaluation of personal aspects based on automated processing, including profiling, underpinning decisions with legal or similarly significant effects;
(b) large-scale processing of sensitive data or data on criminal convictions and offences is undertaken; or
(c) large-scale, systematic monitoring of publicly accessible areas takes place. The supervisory authority must publish a list of operations requiring a DPIA and may also issue a list of operations exempt from this requirement.
Where a DPIA shows that the envisaged processing would still involve high risk in the absence of mitigation measures, the controller must engage in prior consultation with the supervisory authority and may not commence processing until the authority has issued its opinion.
Moreover, according to Art. 4(h), the controller or processor, where applicable, shall designate a data protection officer. Art. 18 regulates the role of the data protection officer, who is responsible for supporting and supervising compliance with data protection rules.
Coverage Horizontal

PARAGUAY

Since May 2002

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Adoption of the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty
WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty
Paraguay has ratified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty.
Coverage Horizontal

PARAGUAY

Since June 1993
Since November 1997

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Effective protection covering trade secrets
Law No. 213, establishing the Labour Code (Ley No. 213 que establece el Código del Trabajo)

Law No. 1160 establishing the Penal Code (Ley No. 1160 que establece el Código Penal)
Paraguay does not have a comprehensive framework in place that provides effective protection of trade secrets, but there are limited measures addressing some issues related to them. Art. 65 of the Labour Code establishes the employee's obligations to maintain strict confidentiality of technical, commercial and manufacturing secrets of the products in the production of which they are directly or indirectly involved or of which they have knowledge by reason of the work performed, as well as of administrative matters whose disclosure could be detrimental to the company. In addition, the literature indicates that in the absence of special laws for the protection of industrial secrets, Criminal Law has a role since Art. 147 of the Penal Code establishes penalties for the disclosure of "other people's" secrets and industrial or trade secrets.
Coverage Horizontal

PARAGUAY

N/A

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Passive infrastructure sharing obligation
Lack of obligation to share passive infrastructure
It is reported that there is no obligation for passive infrastructure sharing in Paraguay to deliver telecom services to end users. However, it is practised in both the mobile and fixed sectors based on commercial agreements.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

PARAGUAY

N/A

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Maximum foreign equity share for investment in the telecommunication sector
Foreign ownership restriction in state-owned enterprise
It is reported that the telecommunications sector is open to competition, except for fixed lines and international carrier services, which remain under State monopoly with the "Compañía Paraguaya de Comunicaciones". This is despite full foreign ownership being allowed in the telecommunications sector. In December 2001, as part of the process of “Reorganization of decentralized Public Entities, of reform and modernization of Central Administration Organizations”, provided for by Law 1615/2000, the National Telecommunications Administration (ANTELCO) changed its name to Compañía Paraguaya de Comunicaciones Sociedad Anónima (Copaco S. A.), becoming a 100% state-owned company.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

PARAGUAY

N/A

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Presence of shares owned by the government in telecom companies
Presence of shares owned by the government in the telecom sector
Compañía Paraguaya de Comunicaciones (COPACO S.A.) is the leading fixed-line telephony operator in Paraguay and is wholly state-owned. It is reported that, in December 2001, within the framework of the “Reorganisation of Decentralised Public Entities and the Reform and Modernisation of Central Administration Organisations” established by Law No. 1615/2000, the former National Telecommunications Administration (ANTELCO) was converted into Compañía Paraguaya de Comunicaciones Sociedad Anónima (COPACO S.A.), as a 100% state-owned company. COPACO also owns 100% of the mobile service operator HOLA.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

PARAGUAY

N/A

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Functional/accounting separation for operators with significant market power
Lack of mandatory functional separation for dominant network operators
Paraguay does not require operators with significant market power (SMP) in the telecommunications sector to implement functional separation. However, it is reported that SMP operators are subject to accounting separation obligations.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

PARAGUAY

Since December 1995, last amended in March 2011
Since July 1996

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Licensing restrictions to operate in the telecom market
Law No. 642 of Telecommunications (Ley No. 642 de Telecomunicaciones)

Decree No. 14135 which regulates the Telecommunications Law (Decreto No. 14135 que reglamenta la Ley de Telecomunicaciones)

CONATEL Board Resolution No. 3523/2024 on the Procedure for Determining the Minimum Amount Payable as Licence, Authorisation, Licence Extension and Licence Renewal Fees under the Demand-Driven Regime (Resolución Directorio No. 3523/2024 - Por La Cual Se Aprueba El Procedimiento Para La Determinación Del Monto Mínimo A Abonar En Concepto De Derecho De Licencia, Autorización, Ampliación De Licencia Y Renovación De Licencia Bajo El Régimen De Solicitud De Partes)
Law No. 642 regulates the concession, license or authorisation to provide telecommunication services. According to Art. 70 of the Law No. 642 and Art. 67 of the Decree No. 14135, concessions, licences and authorisations are subject to the payment of a concession fee, which must be paid within 60 days of their grant or renewal, on a one-off basis for each period. In order to sign the concession contract, the concessionaire must provide proof of prior payment of the concession fee, whose amount is established in the CONATEL Board Resolution No. 3523/2024 on the Procedure for Determining the Minimum Amount Payable as Licence, Authorisation, Licence Extension and Licence Renewal Fees under the Demand-Driven Regime Moreover, there is an annual fee for the commercial exploitation of the services, which can be up to 1% of the provider’s gross income. It is also reported that there is a minimum capital requirement to obtain a licence.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

PARAGUAY

N/A

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Signature of the WTO Telecom Reference Paper
Lack of appendment of WTO Telecom Reference Paper to schedule of commitments
Paraguay has not appended the World Trade Organization (WTO) Telecom Reference Paper to its schedule of commitments.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

PARAGUAY

Since December 1995, last amended in March 2011

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Presence of an independent telecom authority
Law No. 642 of Telecommunications (Ley No. 642 de Telecomunicaciones)
According to Law No. 642 of Telecommunications, the National Telecommunications Commission (CONATEL), the executive authority for the supervision and administration of services in the telecommunications sector, is independent from the government in the decision-making process.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

PARAGUAY

Reported in 2022, last reported in 2025

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Indicator Nationality/residency requirement for directors or managers
Residence requirement for directors and managers
It is reported that, although shareholders of Paraguayan companies may be natural or legal persons regardless of their residence status, directors, managers and legal representatives must be Paraguayan citizens or foreigners with valid residence permits in Paraguay.
Coverage Horizontal

PARAGUAY

Since August 2001, last amended in December 2011

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Practical or legal restrictions related to the application process for patents
Decree No. 14201/2001 Regulating Law No. 1630/2000 on Patents (Decreto No. 14201/2001 por el Cual se Reglamenta la Ley No. 1630/00 de Patentes de Invenciones)
According to Art. 8 of Decree No. 14201/2001, which regulates Law No. 1630/2000 on Patents, a patent application must include, inter alia, the name and address of the acting Industrial Property Agent together with their registration number, as well as a simple copy of the power of attorney or instruction document. According to the official website of the National Intellectual Property Directorate (DINAPI), representation by an Industrial Property Agent is mandatory for filing patent applications, and one of the requirements to act as such an agent is to be a lawyer duly registered with the Supreme Court of Justice of Paraguay.
Coverage Horizontal

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