Database

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COLOMBIA

Since May 2011
Since September 2011

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Sub-pillar User identity requirement
Decree No. 1,630 Whereby Measures are Adopted to Restrict the Operation of Stolen Terminal Equipment that is Used for the Provision of Mobile Telecommunications Services (Decreto No. 1,630 Por Medio del Cual se Adoptan Medidas para Restringir la Operación de Equipos Terminales Hurtados que son Utilizados para la Prestación de Servicios de Telecomunicaciones Móviles)

Resolution CRC No. 3,128 on Positive and Negative Databases (Resolución No. 3128 Por la cual se define el modelo técnico, los aspectos operativos y las reglas para la implementación, […] de las bases de datos positiva y negativa para la restricción de la operación en las redes de telecomunicaciones móviles de los equipos terminales móviles reportados como hurtados y/o extraviados […])
Decree No. 1,630 creates a national registry of mobile phones through the adoption of two databases. The negative database contains the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) of the devices that have been reported as stolen or lost, both in Colombia and abroad, while the positive database includes the mobile equipment imported or legally manufactured in Colombian territory. The latter connects the IMEI with the identity of the user, who is required to provide the telecommunication operators (or mobile telecommunications networks and services providers) with their full name, type and identity document number, address and telephone number. Although there is no mandatory registration of SIM cards, the IMEIs are associated with a specific user. Art. 5 of Decree No. 1,630 states that telecommunications providers must bear the costs of the system that supports the positive and negative databases, which must be managed by an independent legal entity and should guarantee the quality of the service. More regulation on the databases is contained in Resolution No. 3,128.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

COLOMBIA

Since December 2000
Since January 1996, last amended in July 2012
Since July 2000, last amended in January 2022

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Sub-pillar Effective protection covering trade secrets
Andean Decision No. 486 Common Regime on Industrial Property (Decisión No. 486 Régimen Común sobre Propiedad Industrial)

Law No. 256 By Which Rules on Unfair Competition Are Issued (Ley No. 256 Por la Cual se Dictan Normas sobre Competencia Desleal)

Criminal Code (Código Penal)
Laws No. 256, Decision No. 486, and the Penal Code provide a framework for the adequate protection of trade secrets. Art. 245 of Decision No. 486 allows requesting preventive measures to stop an alleged infringement, avoid its consequences, obtain or retain evidence, or ensure the effectiveness of the action or compensation for damages. In addition, Art. 16 of Law No. 256 punishes the violation of trade secrets and Art. 308 of the Penal Code defines the violation of trade secrets and establishes a sanction.
Coverage Horizontal

COLOMBIA

Since November 2008

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Sub-pillar User identity requirement
Resolution No. 912 Police Service Regulations (Resolución No. 912 Por la Cual se Expide el Reglamento del Servicio de Policía)
According to Resolution No. 912, telecom subscribers must provide telecom concessionaires with their name, address, contact number and ID number. The police duplicate this database. Telecommunications service providers authorised to operate must “allow remote queries” to subscriber’s data “via the web through VPN”, which must contain the following information: complete names or registered corporate or trade name; identification number and type or tax identification (for legal entities); address; telephone number; city of residence; mobile number or fixed line number; “ID and FLOTA number” if any; activation date. In case of changes, telecommunications service providers must send updates to DIJIN ("Dirección de Investigación Criminal e INTERPOL de la Policía Nacional") every month (Art. 1 and Annex I).
Coverage Telecommunications sector

COLOMBIA

Since November 2016

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Sub-pillar Passive infrastructure sharing obligation
Resolution CRC No. 5,050 (Resolución No. 5,050 Por la Cual se Compilan las Resoluciones de Carácter General Vigentes Expedidas por la Comisión de Regulación de Comunicaciones)
According to Title IV of Resolution CRC 5050, there is an obligation for passive infrastructure sharing in the country to deliver telecom services to end users. Moreover, passive infrastructure sharing is practised both in the mobile and fixed sectors based on commercial agreements.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

COLOMBIA

N/A

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Sub-pillar Presence of shares owned by the government in telecom companies
Presence of shares owned by the government in the telecom sector
The government of Colombia holds 32.5% shares of Colombia Telecomunicaciones SA ESP, which operates under the brand Movistar and focuses mainly on the telephony and mobile connection businesses. In September 2018, the authorities reported that the State was going to sell its stakes in the company but this has not been the case yet. Some public telecommunication companies exist at the local level, for example, ETB (which provides services in Bogotá), EPM (in Medellín), and Metrotel (in Barranquilla).
Coverage Telecommunications sector

COLOMBIA

N/A

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Sub-pillar Functional/accounting separation for operators with significant market power
Lack of mandatory functional separation for dominant network operators
The country does not mandate functional separation for operators with significant market power (SMP) in the telecom market. However, there is an obligation of accounting separation since 2009. According to Arts. 64 and 65 of Law No. 1,341 "Issues principles and concepts on the information society and the organization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), creates the National Spectrum Agency [...]" (Ley No. 1341 Por la cual se definen principios y conceptos sobre la sociedad de la información y la organización de las Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones (TIC), se crea la Agencia Nacional de Espectro [...]), the operators must keep separate accounting. They would be subject to specific sanctions if they do not comply with the requirement.
In addition, according to Arts. 9.1.2.1. and 9.1.2.2. of Resolution 5050 of 2016 (as amended by Art. 1 of Resolution No. 5589 of 2019), Telecommunications Network and Service Providers and/or Pay TV Operators are obliged to adopt separate accounting schemes in compliance with Art. 22 (numeral 19) and Art. 64 (numeral 8) of Law No. 1,341 of 2009.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

COLOMBIA

Since July 2009, last amended in July 2021
Since December 2009
Since April 2021

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Sub-pillar Other restrictions to operate in the telecom market
Law No. 1,341 Issues Principles and Concepts on the Information Society and the Organization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Creates the National Spectrum Agency (Ley No. 1,341 Por la Cual se Definen Principios y Conceptos sobre la Sociedad de la Información y la Organización de las Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones (TIC), se Crea la Agencia Nacional de Espectro [...])

Decree No. 4,948 Regulates the General Legal Authorisation for the Provision of Telecommunications Networks and Services and ICT Registration (Decreto No. 4,948 Por el Cual se Reglamenta la Habilitación General para la Provisión de Redes y Servicios de Telecomunicaciones y el Registro de TIC)

Decree No. 377 Whereby Title 1 of Part 2 of Book 2 of Decree 1078 of 2015, the Single Regulatory Decree for the Information and Communication Technologies Sector, is subrogated to regulate the Single ICT Registry and other provisions are issued (Decreto No. 377 Por el Cual se Subroga el Título 1 de la Parte 2 del Libro 2 del Decreto 1078 de 2015, Decreto Único Reglamentario del Sector de Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones, para Reglamentar el Registro Único de TIC y se Dictan Otras Disposiciones)
It has been reported that, in practice, telecommunication companies need to be incorporated into the country because of the documents needed for mandatory registration in the ICT Registry (under Law No. 1,341, Decree No. 4,948, and Decree No. 377). These documents include the Tax Identification Number for network and services providers and "Rol Único Tributario" for natural persons, according to Art. 5 and 6 of Decree No. 4,948.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

COLOMBIA

Since June 1971, last amended in January 2022

Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services  |  Sub-pillar Other limitations on foreign participation in public procurement
Commerce Code (Código de Comercio)
Art. 471 of the Commercial Code mandates that a foreign company must establish a branch domiciled in Colombia in order to conduct "permanent" business activities within the country. In accordance with Art. 474 of the Code, activities considered "permanent" include acting as a contractor for works or providing services.
Coverage Horizontal

COLOMBIA

Reported in 2021, last reported in 2023

Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services  |  Sub-pillar Other limitations on foreign participation in public procurement
Complaints on lack of transparency in public procurement
There have been frequent complaints about the lack of transparency and rule changes during the award of major government contracts. It has been reported that, despite Law No. 80, transparency, fairness, and truly competitive bidding conditions in many tenders remain uncertain. The Colombian government is also resorting to auctions for the purchase of high-tech or complex equipment. These factors remain significant market access barriers for some companies interested in public sector contracts.
Coverage Horizontal

COLOMBIA

N/A

Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services  |  Sub-pillar Signatory of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) with coverage of the most relevant services sectors (CPC 752, 754, 84)
Lack of participation in the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA)
Colombia is not a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA). However, the country has been an observer of the WTO GPA since 1996.
Coverage Horizontal

COLOMBIA

Since January 1991

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Sub-pillar Maximum foreign equity share
Law No. 9 of 1991 - Whereby General Rules Are Issued to Which the National Government Shall Be Subject to Regulate International Exchanges and Complementary Measures Are Adopted (Ley No. 9 de 1991 - Por la Cual se Dictan Normas Generales a las que Deberá Sujetarse el Gobierno Nacional para Regular los Cambios Internacionales y se Adoptan Medidas Complementarias)
According to Art. 15 of Law 9 of 1991, the general regime for the investment of foreign capital in the country and Colombian investments abroad is established by the National Government. With the exception of those matters relating to the transfer of resources abroad, foreign investment in Colombia shall be treated for all purposes in the same manner as the investment of Colombian nationals.
Coverage Horizontal

COLOMBIA

Since June 1971, last amended in January 2022

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Sub-pillar Commercial presence requirement for digital services providers
Commerce Code (Código de Comercio)
Art. 471 of the Commerce Code stipulates that for a foreign company to engage in "permanent" business in Colombia, it must set up a branch domiciled in the country. According to Art. 474 of the Code, activities deemed "permanent" include:
- Opening commercial establishments or business offices;
- Intervening as a contractor of works or provision of services;
- Obtaining a concession from the Colombian State (or if the State has formally given up rights through another title) or participating in some way in the exploitation of a concession;
- The fact that associate assemblies, board of directors, or administration of a foreign company are operating in the national territory.
Coverage Horizontal

COLOMBIA

Reported in 2022, last reported in 2024

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Sub-pillar Commercial presence requirement for digital services providers
Reported requirement for commercial presence in data processing and information services
It is reported that the provision of data processing and information services in Colombia necessitates the establishment of a formal commercial presence.
Coverage Data processing and information services

COLOMBIA

Since February 2001

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Sub-pillar Participation in the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Colombia is a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
Coverage Horizontal

COLOMBIA

Since January 1982, last amended in July 2018
Since December 1993

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Sub-pillar Copyright law with clear exceptions
Law No. 23 on Copyright (Ley No. 23 Sobre Derechos de Autor)

Andean Decision No. 351 Common Regime on Copyright and Related Rights (Decisión Andina No. 351. Régimen Común sobre Derecho de Autor y Derechos Conexos)
Colombia has a copyright regime under Law No. 23. However, the exceptions do not follow the fair use or fair dealing model, therefore limiting the lawful use of copyrighted work by others. Arts. 31-44 list the exceptions, which include the use of literary or artistic works or parts thereof as illustrations in works intended for educational purposes; and the reproduction, distribution, and communication to the public of news or other information relating to facts or events that have been publicly disseminated by the press or by broadcasting; among others.
Moreover, Colombia is a member of the Andean Community of Nations and is subject to Decision 351, issued in 1993. Art. 22 of the Decision sets forth a list of mandatory exceptions in the internal market but also allows the adoption of additional exceptions in the domestic law of members, as long as they comply with the international standards of the so-called three-step test.
Coverage Horizontal

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