Peru Ombudsmans Office Tender

The blocking of one million cell phones with invalid IMEIs will begin with the aim of reducing thefts and thefts of these equipment and discouraging their commercialization. In view of this the Ombudsmans Office required the Supervisory Agency for Private Investment in Telecommunications Osiptel to develop further actions to disseminate the measure.At the same time the institution demanded to promote coordination with the operating companies so that in the sale of mobile equipment payment facilities are granted and that they make efforts to incorporate low-cost cell phones in their offer in order to promote in this scenario of health crisis the legal acquisition of this equipment.It should be noted that the significant amount of equipment that is purchased informally warns of the need to implement complementary measures to facilitate access to mobile phones among those who lack sufficient economic income to acquire them and thus reduce the digital divide as a national policy.Currently operating companies through their web pages and online stores advertise cell phones for sale but only by means of a single payment or in cash. This situation could mean a serious limitation for many people who in this period cannot immediately pay the full cost of a cell phone.For the Ombudsmans Office another aspect to consider is the prices of cell phones which vary between companies and depending on whether the equipment is acquired with a new line through portability or renewal. For a new line in the prepaid mode the cheapest prices for the equipment offered by the operators Entel and Claro are S 399 and S 219 respectively Meanwhile Movistar offers a cell phone for S 169 but subject to hiring a postpaid plan of S 55.90.In this time of a pandemic that requires social distancing to reduce the spread of COVID-19 ensuring access to a mobile phone is an important step to combat digital and financial exclusion. In this sense getting citizens to access this means of communication is the basis for promoting the exercise of the right of access to telecommunications services telephony and mobile internet allowing communication access to remote education state information teleworking and even accessing economic bonuses granted by the government through mobile money services.The Ombudsmans Office will continue to supervise the provisions issued by Osiptel as well as the actions of companies to guarantee the provision of telecommunications services in the country within the framework of the national state of emergency.