Anatel’s (National Telecommunications Agency) Board of Directors approved by three votes to two, the specifications for the 5G spectrum tender and other uses, with several changes compared to the original proposal presented on February 1, between which highlights the modification of the 5G deployment schedule under the standards of Release 16 (standalone).

The tender, considered the largest in Brazil’s history comprises a total of 3,710 MHz, according to the following plan: 20 MHz in the 700 MHz band, 90 MHz in the 2.3 GHz band, 400 MHz in the 3.5 GHz band and 3,200 MHz in the 26 GHz band. With the exception of this last band, in all other cases there will be coverage obligations and investments in telecommunications networks.

One of the main modifications approved is the schedule with intermediate stages for the main cities of the country. Now operators must install one antenna for every 100,000 inhabitants as of July 31, 2022. The initial proposal established that the first antennas should be installed as of December 2022, but one antenna for every 50,000 inhabitants.

It also established to allow the 26 GHz band to be used for fixed broadband service and not only for Personal Mobile Service as it appeared in the original version.

Another modification made to the original specifications is that now the 700 MHz band may also be sold in regional blocks during the second round, since the first is for national licenses.

The approved document maintains the use of resources obtained in the tender to finance the installation of a state network and the implementation of the PAIS (Integrated and Sustainable Amazon Program), to which the Connected North Program belongs. The execution of these projects will be in charge of the EAF (Administration Entity of the 3.5 GHz Band), which will also be responsible for compensating satellite companies and distributing kits for migration to the Ku band.