Updated August 14, 2026 at 3:56 p.m. Colombia time
ICT Minister Alexandra Falla issued formal directives to telecommunications providers to prioritize connectivity and safeguard emergency communications in affected territories.
Priority for emergency communications
Circular 0028 calls for immediate, free and timely network availability for authorities and life-saving communications. Calls to 123 and other emergency lines must remain free, including without credit or when service is suspended.
Regulatory tools under consideration
ANE is to identify unused spectrum for possible temporary authorisations of supplementary terrestrial or satellite links, including direct-to-device links. CRC may provisionally order access, use and interconnection to share infrastructure that remains operational. These possibilities do not establish that the links are already active.
SMS, amateur radio and free calls
During congestion, the ministry recommends SMS and instant messaging. Mobile operators were enabled to offer free calls during the emergency; citizen-band and amateur radio networks may support communications under UNGRD direction.
Monitoring without a restoration rate
CMIC is monitoring the sector; public media and Radio Nacional stations are reported active. The 1:54 p.m. post reiterates the monitoring, but provides no recent nationwide coverage, outage or restoration rate.