IPTV battle brewing in Puerto Rico

Triple-play cable network operators OneLink Communications and Choice Cable have brought a legal case to the Federal Court of Puerto Rico against the recent approval of an IPTV license issued to incumbent national PSTN operator Puerto Rico Telephone Company (Claro), TeleGeography CommsUpdate reported.

TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database noted that in September 2011 Puerto Rico’s Telecommunications Regulatory Board (TRB) indicated it would grant an IPTV license to Claro, which it had requested in 2008.

OneLink successfully objected to the original application, but the island’s Supreme Court overruled the objection in June 2010.

America Movil subsidiary Claro offers satellite-based pay-TV services under the banner Claro TV, which it launched in April 2010.

NexTV Latam reported that, following the TRB’s approval of Claro’s IPTV licensing conditions in November 2011, the telco is cleared to launch IPTV services regardless of any ongoing court action.

Meanwhile, OneLink intends to overturn the decision in court, based on alleged evidence of illegal commercial practices, including alleged crossed subsidies, between [Claro’s] telephone and Claro TV services.