l) Intangibles
i) Licenses
Licenses to operate wireless telecommunications networks granted by the governments of the countries in which the Company operates are recorded at acquisition cost or at fair value at their acquisition date, net of accumulated amortization. Certain licenses require payments to the goverments, such payments are recognized in the cost of service and equipment.
The licenses that in accordance with government requirements are categorized as automatically renewable, for a nominal cost and with substantially consistent terms, are considered by the Company as intangible assets with an indefinite useful life. Accordingly, they are not amortized. Licenses are amortized when the Company does not have a basis to conclude that they are indefinite lived. Licenses are amortized using the straight-line method over a period ranging from 3 to 30 years, which represents the usage period of the assets.
The Company has conducted an internal analysis on the applicability of the International Financial Reporting Interpretation Committee (“IFRIC”) No. 12 (Service Concession Agreements) and has concluded that its concessions are outside the scope of IFRIC 12. To determine the applicability of IFRIC 12, the Company analyzes each concession or group of similar concessions in a given jurisdiction. As a threshold matter, the Company identifies those government concessions that provide for the development, financing, operation or maintenance of infrastructure used to render a public service, and that set out performance standards, mechanisms for adjusting prices and arrangements for arbitrating disputes.
With respect to those services, the Company evaluates whether the grantor controls or regulates (i) what services the operator must provide, (ii) to whom it must provide them and (iii) the applicable price (the “Services Criterion”). In evaluating whether the applicable government, as grantor, controls the price at which the Company provides its services, the Company looks at the terms of the concession agreement according to all applicable regulations. If the Company determines that the concession under analysis meets the Services Criterion, then the Company evaluates whether the grantor would hold a significant residual interest in the concession’s infrastructure at the end of the term of the arrangement.
In some of the jurisdictions where the Company operates and under certain circumstances, the Company may be required to transfer certain assets covered by some of its concessions to the government pursuant to valuation methodologies that vary in each jurisdiction. In Brazil, for example, Claro Brasil is required to maintain and file before the Brazilian Agency of Telecommunications (Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações, or “Anatel”) a list of assets potentially subject to reversion. The list of potentially reversible assets, delivered in 2017 (referring to the base year 2016) identified an estimated gross book value of Ps. 20,637,743 (3,450,100 Brazilian reals). The Company believes that this list significantly overstates the extent of assets that would as a legal matter be subject to reversion, but there is no regulatory requirement or legal basis for a more refined analysis. See also Notes 10 and 16c).
ii) Trademarks
Trademarks are recorded at their fair value at the valuation date when acquired. The useful lives of trademarks are assessed as either definite or indefinite. Trademarks with finite useful lives are amortized using the straight-line method over a period ranging from 1 to 10 years. Trademarks with indefinite useful lives are not amortized, but are tested for impairment annually at the cash generating unit level. The assessment of indefinite life is reviewed annually to determine whether the indefinite life continues to be supportable, if not, the change in useful life from indefinite to definite is made on a prospective basis.
iii) Rights of use
Rights of use are recognized according to the amount paid for the right and are amortized over the period in which they are granted.
The carrying values of the Company’s licenses and trademarks are reviewed annually and whenever there are indicators of impairment in the value of such assets. When an asset’s recoverable amount, which is the higher of the asset’s fair value, less disposal costs and its value in use (the present value of future cash flows), is less than the asset’s carrying value, the difference is recognized as an impairment loss.
iv) Customer relationships
The value of customer relations is determined and valued at the time that a new subsidiary is acquired, as determined by the Company with the assistance of independent appraisers, and is amortized on a 5 year period.
During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, no impairment losses were recognized for licenses, trademarks, rights of use or customer relationships.