Brazilian telecom regulator Anatel‘s board of directors approved the potential framework for the auction of radio frequency in the 451 MHz to 458 MHz band; 461 MHz to 468 MHz band and 2.5 GHz to 2690 MHz band. The tender is expected to be held until April 30, pursuant to a decree passed last June.
The radio frequencies are to be used to expand access to fourth-generation, mobile broadband technologies. The spectrum and resulting networks also might address demand from major sporting events to be held in Brazil (World Cup Confederations in 2013, 2014 World Cup and Olympic Games in 2016).
Anatel’s proposal will include 30 days for public consultation and hearings.
Spectrum in the 451 MHz to 458 MHz band and 461 MHz to 468 MHz band are set to be used for expanding service to rural and remote areas. The tender’s winners would be required to fulfill commitments to enable the progressive enlargement of the penetration of telecommunication services for voice and data telecommunications in rural areas and in remote areas at affordable prices. The winner would also have to provide free broadband connectivity to all public schools in rural areas of their provisioned service.
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However, there are currently no guidelines for the speed of mobile broadband services that are to be provided.
The 2.5 GHz winners will have until May 31, 2013, to launch 4G services to all cities hosting the FIFA 2013 World Cup Confederations and 2014 World Cup. They will then have until the end of 2013 to provide service in markets hosting the 2014 Football World Cup.
Anatel set a deadline of May 31, 2014, to provide coverage to state capitals with more than 500,000 inhabitants and also the Federal District. Then, carriers will have until the end of 2015 to provide coverage to cities with more than 100,000 people. Municipalities with a population of between 30,000 to 100,000 people must have coverage for at least half of their population using the 2500 MHz to 2690 MHz bands and the 1900 MHz to 2100 MHz bands by the end of 2017.
>>> Watch here Anatel press conference held in Brasília, Brazil’s capital .
>>> Check out the full presentation of the possible auction framework [text in Portuguese].
In connection with the 450 MHz spectrum, Anatel specified that the mobile broadband network should offer download speeds of at least 256 kilobits per second and upload speeds of 128 kbps, which are comparable to speeds offered by services included under the National Broadband Plan.
The winners in the 450 MHz auctions will also have until the end of 2013 to provide coverage to 30% of municipalities, until the end of 2014 to cover 60% of the markets in its license area, and reach 100% coverage by the end of 2015. The operators will also need to upgrade data connections to a minimum speed of 1 megabit per second for downloads and 256 kbps for uploads.
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