Subtel renews FM radio concessions in Los Andes and Punta Arenas for 25 years

The Undersecretariat of Telecommunications (Subtel) renewed for a period of 25 years the frequency modulated sound broadcasting concessions in the localities of Los Andes and Punta Arenas, in favor of Bío Bío Comunicaciones S.A. and Megamedia Radio S.A., respectively. The decision was formalized in exempt decrees No. 845 and No. 846, both dated August 11, 2026, published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Chile No. 44,537 on Saturday, August 29, 2026, in Section II of Particular Regulations.

The decrees were signed by order of the President of the Republic by the Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Louis de Grange Concha, and transcribed by the Undersecretary of Telecommunications, Romina Garrido Iglesias. Both renewals are based on Law No. 18,168 of 1982, General Telecommunications Law, on Supreme Decree No. 126 of 1997, which approves the Sound Broadcasting Regulations, and on the bases of the respective public tenders, without any claim having been filed against the resolutions that assigned the concessions.

Two stations, two regions

The renewal guarantees the continuity of two local stations that operated under a previous concession and were awarded the contracts in the public sound broadcasting tenders. The essential elements of each concession are as follows:

• Los Andes (Valparaíso Region): concessionaire Bío Bío Comunicaciones S.A., RUT No. 96,516,560-6, call sign XQB-223, frequency 103.5 MHz, power 250 W.
• Punta Arenas (Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Region): concessionaire Megamedia Radio S.A., RUT No. 78,794,060-9, call sign XQD-377, frequency 106.3 MHz, power 250 W.

In both cases, the concession period is 25 years, counted from the date of publication of the decree in the Official Gazette, and the service area is delimited by a field strength greater than or equal to 54 dB (µV/m) referred to the signal emission point.

Technical characteristics of the facilities

The decrees approve the technical specifications of the project that supported the original concession, ratified by each concessionaire in its tender submission. Among the technical data, the following stand out:

• Los Andes: emission type 180KF8EHF, maximum deviation of +75 kHz, directional radiation pattern, antenna gain of 13 dBd, vertical polarization, 4 Corner Reflector panel-type antennas, and radiation center height of 25 m.
• Punta Arenas: emission type 180KF8EHF, maximum deviation of +75 kHz, directional pattern, gain of 7.2 dBd, vertical polarization, 3 dipole antennas with reflector panel, and radiation center height of 23.8 m.

The Los Andes transmitting plant is located on Cerro Algarrobo, Calle Larga commune, while the Punta Arenas plant is on Camino Cerro Mirador, km 7, of that commune. The studios of both stations remain in Concepción and Ñuñoa, respectively.

Deadlines and obligations

Each renewal decree must be published in the Official Gazette within 30 business days following the notification of its full processing; failure to publish within the deadline results in the extinction of the concession by operation of law. The concessionaires are subject to the payment of fees for the use of the radioelectric spectrum and are obliged to comply with the law, regulations, and applicable technical standards.

The 25-year renewal provides legal and operational certainty to two stations providing service in areas of high geographical dispersion, such as the Valparaíso Region and the southern Magallanes Region, ensuring the continuity of local broadcasting and informative pluralism for their audiences.

Source: Official Gazette of the Republic of Chile, No. 44,537, Saturday, August 29, 2026, Section II (Particular Norms) (official reference: CVE 2861933 and CVE 2862096).