The BELLA II project continues to advance in defining the digital infrastructure that will strengthen connectivity and cooperation between Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe.

In this context, one of the key milestones has been the implementation of the Competitive Dialogue, a mechanism that, in collaboration with market actors, enables the structuring of the connectivity solutions required by participating countries and the identification of potential partners or contributors to the project.

The Competitive Dialogue process was launched on May 19th, 2025, with the first stage closing on June 20th, and notification of advancement to Phase 2 on July 10th, 2025. The process is currently in this second phase.

The Competitive Dialogue was designed to address the technical, financial and operational complexity involved in incorporating new countries into BELLA II, particularly the priority countries Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Peru. Unlike traditional procurement schemes, this mechanism enables the development of solutions through direct interaction with operators and infrastructure providers, following a structured, multi-phase process.

During the first phase, a call for expressions of interest was launched, enabling the identification of stakeholders capable of participating in the development of the infrastructure. Subsequently, a group of organisations progressed to the structured dialogue phase, in which different technical alternatives and implementation models were analysed.

During this stage, key aspects of the network's development were explored, including last-mile connectivity, investment and contribution schemes, and possible implementation models aligned with the conditions and priorities of participating countries. This process has enabled the collection of market input and progress in defining viable solutions for the expansion of RedCLARA’s regional infrastructure through BELLA II.

The Competitive Dialogue is part of a broader BELLA II strategy to consolidate a digital infrastructure that facilitates scientific cooperation, data exchange, and capacity building in research, education, and innovation.

With these advances, the project continues to define connectivity solutions and structure the agreements required for their implementation, enabling the expansion of BELLA’s reach across Latin America and the Caribbean.