RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT), the Mexican regulator of the sector, approved on Wednesday the modification of 18 concession titles of Telcel, owned by tycoon Carlos Slim, to offer 5G services, launching the largest commercial network in Latin America with this technology.
In a statement, the IFT said that for the use of the spectrum used, the state would receive special funds to pay fees amounting to more than 900 million pesos (us$43.9 million) per year, following the provisions of the Federal Law of Rights.
The regulator said that the plenary of the IFT, in a regular meeting held that day, “approved the request for modification of 18 concession titles of Radiomovil Dipsa (Telcel) for the use, application, and exploitation of frequency bands of the radio spectrum in the range of 3,450-3,550 MHz.”
This enables the company to provide wireless access services in the mobile sector (as it was previously authorized only for fixed wireless access).
Similarly, the agency said the change in frequency bands was approved so that the 18 licenses will operate in the 3,350-3,450 MHz range.
The approved change includes operating conditions for Telcel to ensure adequate protection from harmful interference for satellite services operating in Mexico in the 3,400-3,700 MHz frequency range.
The IFT pointed out that the deployment of this network “will represent an improvement in telecommunications services for all users, thanks to the rebalancing of traffic that can be achieved through other frequency bands for which Telcel holds concessions.”
He pointed out that the fifth generation of mobile communications “is not just a new version that offers higher data transmission speeds and lower response times (latency).”
Instead, in conjunction with other technologies, it will “impact all areas of people’s lives and the development of nations’ productive, economic, educational, social, cultural and governmental sectors.”
5G technology offers applications for the automation of agro-industrial processes, the massive Internet of Things, tele-education, telework, telemedicine, intelligent and autonomous transport.
Add to that public safety, smart city development, e-commerce, financial inclusion, entertainment, and more.
In late January, the IFT postponed a decision on the application of América Móvil, another of Slim’s companies, to offer pay-TV services through Claro TV.