Latin America. The radio spectrum bands in 700 MHz and 2.5 GHz are of utmost importance for the development of mobile telecommunications in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the recently published 5G Americas study "Allocation of radio spectrum in 700 MHz and 2.5 GHz in Latin America 2017".
Due to their technical characteristics and present conditions, both bands present an opportunity for the region to discount part of the gap between the radio spectrum currently used for mobile services and the suggestions of international organizations such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The allocation of sufficient radio spectrum is a key element for the development of wireless telecommunications services and a decisive factor in coping with the explosion in mobile data consumption. It is imperative to have new spectrum together with a higher level of harmonisation of the spectrum, but it is also crucial that the frequencies are clean, that is, that there are other services that use the same bands as the frequencies granted. In the case of the 700 MHz or 2.5 GHz band, the situation is far from ideal, explains the study.
700 MHz
The 700 MHz band, between 698 MHz and 806 MHz in the case of the Americas, arises from the so-called digital dividend, that is, from frequencies released after the migration of analog television services to digital technologies.
It is estimated that by 2020 some 6,000 million inhabitants in the world will be covered by mobile technologies in digital dividend spectrum. The channeling of greater economies of scale worldwide will be APT (Asia-Pacific Telecommunity), especially in FDD (Frequency Division Duplex) mode. In addition, due to its propagation capacity, it is ideal for expanding coverage in areas of low population density, such as rural areas, with a more economical and faster network deployment.
2.5 GHz
The identification of frequencies between 2500 and 2690 MHz (usually abbreviated as the 2.5 GHz band) for IMT-2000 and IMT-Advanced technologies, added to the general idleness in the region of this segment of the spectrum, have renewed interest in it. Technological evolution and different business models have led to the fact that the services historically offered in the band have not been mostly deployed or have not fully occupied the frequency.
The technical properties of the 2.5 GHz band, especially its extensive bidirectional data transmission capacity, and its potential for worldwide use make it a frequency of special interest to meet the growing demand for mobile broadband, particularly in urban and suburban areas of high population density. In addition, it is expected that the extension of its use will facilitate the introduction of technologies with carrier aggregation in conjunction with other bands.
The study "Adjudication of radio spectrum in 700 MHz and 2.5 GHz in Latin America 2017" of 5G Americas provides a complete overview of the situation of both bands in the region and can be downloaded here.
https://5gamericas.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9da76cc577fd2f2315e16d8db&id=52735fbbc9&e=bcbd44fb30
