RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – 5G technology will be available in all Brazilian capitals by July 2022. The public notice for the 5G auction bid was approved on February 25th by the National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL) Board of Directors, which has also decided on the mandatory adoption of standalone 5G, which will require the implementation of a network independent from the current 4G set-up. The notice will now be analysed by the Federal Audit Court (TCU).
This 5G technology allows data traffic up to 100 times faster than the fourth generation standard (4G), because it uses a wider radio spectrum, allowing more mobile devices to connect simultaneously, with greater stability than current networks.
Moreover, the technology favors the use of intelligent tools, interconnection of equipment and machines in real time and the so-called Internet of Things (IoT).
“The 5G technology is a catalyst for new technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality and mixed reality,” said on February 26th, ANATEL’s chairman Leonardo de Morais, during a press conference to announce the approval of the auction notice. “It is an umbrella that enhances and involves several other technologies,” he added.
The TCU is expected to complete its review of the auction notice by the end of the first half of the year. The submitted notice provides for the auction of radio frequencies in the 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz, 3.5 GHz and 26 GHz bands. According to ANATEL, the release of these frequencies will provide more spectrum resources for service providers to expand their networks.
The proposal also establishes coverage obligations for operators that win the blocks, including the need for investments to offer 4G technology or higher and also backhaul (access networks) in areas with little or no service coverage.
In municipalities with over 500,000 inhabitants, the deadline for deploying 5G is July 2025, in cities with over 200,000 inhabitants it is July 2026, and July 2027 for those with more than 100,000 inhabitants.
It is expected that 60% of cities with fewer than 30,000 inhabitants will be covered by December 2027, a goal that reaches 90% by December 2028 and 100% by December 2029.
ANATEL also determined that the 6 gigahertz (GHz) band be totally used for the improvement of Wi-Fi wireless broadband internet equipment in Brazil, the so-called Wi-Fi 6E.
Furthermore, the operators that bid for capacity in the 3.5 GHz band, the so-called 5G golden band, will also be responsible for the migration of open satellite TV (satellite dish), which currently uses the same frequency. According to the auction notice, families registered in the federal government’s Unified Registry (CadÚnico) will be entitled to free replacement of their satellite TV equipment with another that will not be affected by signal interference.
The public notice also includes resources for the implementation of fiber optic transport networks in the North Region (Programa Amazônia Integrada e Sustentável – Pais). The plan is to install 13,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables in the North Region’s riverbeds.
Another point established is the development of a private 5G network for the federal government administration, which will enable secure information traffic. The proposal determines that the network will have two fronts: a fixed fiber-optic network linking all federal agencies, and a mobile network exclusively in the Federal District for public security activities, defense, emergency services and disaster response.
“This is being done in several countries. The United States is doing it, Finland is doing it. This is becoming very common, and countries are building these networks,” said Communications Minister Fabio Faria.
Source: Infomoney