Argentina’s telecommunications regulator ENACOM on Monday approved a bid for bandwidth slots for 5G technology providers. According to the term sheet published in the official bulletin, the offer consists of three slots, each with a starting price of USD 350 million. The winner of each bid will be given a slot for his 20 years.
To ensure competition, companies will only be allowed to bid for one of the three 100 MHz slots between the 3,300 MHz and 3,600 MHz bandwidths. Potential bidders have until September 29 to submit the required technical information.
The approval comes as the final step in a process that began in 2021, with ENACOM beginning to lay the groundwork by determining the frequencies to be used and asking carriers how much of the infrastructure needed for 5G is in place. Ta.
5G is the name given to the fifth generation technology of broadband networks, which allows multiple wireless devices to connect to the Internet and mobile phone networks with faster speeds and shorter response times than previous technologies. To do this, 5G typically uses higher bandwidth than 4G, making the network more efficient.
This technology is essential for the development of the so-called Internet of Things, the data connection between household appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines and the Internet. 5G allows you to do this without slowing down or overloading your network.
Companies interested in bidding for 5G slots in Argentina must meet certain requirements. These include the declaration of relevant licenses, net assets of more than AR$10 billion, and at least 50,000 access points. Additionally, you must already have operations in at least 10 cities across the country.
Once telecom providers are allocated bandwidth and 50% of their customers use 5G devices, the companies will also need to offer service plans for low-income users. There was no specific indication of what the plan should look like, but ENACOM said it would target people earning less than twice the minimum wage and non-profit corporations.
Argentine cities such as Buenos Aires, Rosario and Cordoba already have 5G antennas installed, but the technology is not yet available. The main reason for this is that the bandwidth required for transmission is limited and expensive. Latin American countries with 5G networks include Brazil, Mexico, and Chile.
