Lima, Nov. 17, 2006. The Andean Community approved a new regulatory framework for the commercial exploitation of the Andean satellite segment belonging to the Member Countries, which will make it possible to shortly convene an international selection process for the company that will take charge of its operation and exploitation.  

The regulatory framework was approved at the Ninety-fourth Regular Session of the Andean Community Commission --the policy-setting body of the integration process, made up of the Ministers of Trade of the Andean countries-- held at the Lima General Secretariat of the CAN on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.   

In underscoring the importance of this Community Decision, the acting Secretary General of the Andean Community, Alfredo Fuentes Hernández, explained that it has created the legal framework necessary to permit any international operator with sufficient experience and the necessary economic means to exploit our spatial segment.  

"We believe that due exploitation of our satellite resource is of key importance for deepening the integration and the socio-cultural unity of the Andean countries, as well as for building up our communications with the rest of the world,” he stressed.