radio spectrum regulation

Mexican regulator IFT granted AT&T and Telcel (América Móvil) 20-year extensions of their nationwide spectrum concessions in the 1900 MHz band, in exchange for fees totalling US$42m. The 20-year period for both concessions starts in April 2025.

The award schedule includes frequencies in multiple bands for awards in the short (2027–2028), medium (2029–2032) and long term (2032–2036). The Brazilian regulator expects to award 85 MHz in low bands, 1320 MHz in mid-bands and 2500 MHz in high bands until 2036. Anatel plans to hold the 6 GHz award by October 2026.

All EU member states awarded the 5G pioneer band 3.4–3.8 GHz and all except Poland and Malta awarded the 700 MHz band. Our latest European benchmarks on spectrum bands and licences in Europe provide an overview of 5G licences in all mobile bands.

SUTEL, the country’s spectrum regulator, awarded national licences in the 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz, 3.5 GHz and 26/28 GHz bands to Claro (América Móvil) and Liberty. In total, the operators paid US$32.5m for 340 MHz in low and mid-bands and 800 MHz in bands above 24 GHz. The five local operators that participated in the auction paid U$1.5m for local licences. Winnings bidders will have to deploy over 3,300 antennas in total.

Conatel, the Paraguayan regulator, consulted until 27 December 2024 on draft rules to award 400 MHz in the 3.5 GHz spectrum band. Conatel set the reserve price at US$500,000 per 50 MHz block. Participants must bid for at least two blocks. Tender rules include an obligation for spectrum winners to cover interference mitigation costs and to offer passive infrastructure sharing and national roaming to other mobile operators.

The spectrum will be offered in regional blocks of 2x10 MHz, or blocks of 2x5 MHz if the 2x10 MHz blocks go unsold. Anatel expects the auction design to enable entrant operators that won licences in the 2021 auction to access spectrum below 1 GHz. Operators that already have a licence in the 700 MHz cannot bid in the first phases of the award.