Regulatory Compliance News

Leadership Shift and Regulatory Updates at Bolivia’s Telecom Regulator ATT

Bolivia’s Autoridad de Regulación y Fiscalización de Telecomunicaciones y Transportes (ATT) designated Cristiam Marcelo Mamani Vides as its Technical Director. While leadership transitions at the agency level can occasionally introduce temporary administrative backlogs, the ATT simultaneously modernized its radio frequency type approval framework to streamline long-term market access procedures for global hardware manufacturers.

Under updated administrative regulations, including Resolution RAR 539/2024, the ATT significantly extended the validity period of new Type Approval Certificates (TAC) from 5 years to 10 years. Existing certificates issued prior to the regulatory shift remain valid through their original expiration dates, after which re-evaluation and renewal under the extended term apply. Furthermore, the agency updated its official list of telecommunications and IT equipment subject to mandatory homologation, clarifying categories that require full type approval versus items eligible for "No Homologation" customs exemption letters.

The ATT continues to maintain a streamlined, paper-based review process that accepts foreign test reports aligned with European Union CE (RED) and U.S. FCC standards, eliminating the need for in-country sample testing. However, foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) must maintain a registered local representative in Bolivia to submit applications and liaise directly with regional ATT offices. Hardware vendors placing radio frequency equipment on the Bolivian market should coordinate with local representatives to verify updated product categorization and leverage extended 10-year certification lifecycles.