Colombia's Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio has ordered Partners Telecom Colombia to immediately stop using the WOM brand and logo. The action stems from a lawsuit by WOM Chile against the new owners of the Colombian operation. With no compliance so far, WOM Chile will seek forced enforcement.
On January 28, WOM Chile made progress in its legal battle against Sur Holdings, a group of investors from the United States and the United Kingdom who acquired the telecommunications operation in Colombia under the corporate name Partners Telecom Colombia (PTC). After failed negotiation attempts and extensions requested by the Colombian side, WOM Chile filed a lawsuit with the Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio.
Last week, the regulator issued Auto number 7289, requiring PTC to "immediately comply" with ceasing use of the brand. This entails the definitive suspension of distinctive signs owned by WOM SpA, the removal of all advertising, promotional materials, and references on digital channels such as websites and social media, as well as in physical locations and print media. Additionally, PTC must deliver or destroy, under judicial supervision and at its own cost, any products or packaging bearing the brand.
The authority also mandates that Partners Telecom Colombia publicly announce it is not authorized to use the brand since the contract's termination, which includes immediately stopping use of the web domains wom.co and wommusic.co.
As of the edition's close, PTC has not followed these judicial measures, so WOM Chile intends to request forced enforcement of the ruling.
This dispute in Colombia stands in contrast to WOM's revival in Chile, where the company successfully exited Chapter 11 in March 2025, brought in new investors such as funds Patria, BlackRock, Amundi, and Man GLG, and refreshed its board and executive team. WOM has streamlined its financial structure, reduced debt, and met network deployment commitments, positioning itself as a bidder for Telefónica's assets in Chile for US$1,000 million.
