Today: Brazil finally decides on the rules for its upcoming 5G auction. A deal to bring more vaccines to Brazil. And the latest on the EU-Mercosur trade agreement.
5G auction rules finally approved
After two years of discussions, telecom regulator Anatel approved the rules for the upcoming 5G frequencies auction in Brazil. Though one regulatory hurdle has been surpassed, others remain. Now, the Federal Accounts Court — a sort of audit tribunal which monitors public spending and bidding processes — must approve the rules. If everything goes according to plan, the next generation of internet connections could be fully deployed in major urban centers by mid-2022.
Why it matters. Brazil will offer five frequency bands in what is expected to be the world’s largest 5G implementation auction.
Infrastructure. For the 3.5GHz frequency band, the government wants winning bidders to implement NR Release 16 technology from the get-go. This requires new infrastructure and would allow the implementation of a standalone 5G network, for what the government is calling “pure 5G.”
- This is the ideal spectrum band for 5G, known as the “golden band,” offering both faster speeds and low latency.
For the government. Providers will also be required to set up...