Argentina has taken the first step to launching 4G in the country after revealing plans to auction new spectrum licences later this year.
Communications secretary Norberto Berner said that the government would grant concessions for frequencies in the…
Argentina has taken the first step to launching 4G in the country after revealing plans to auction new spectrum licences later this year.
Communications secretary Norberto Berner said that the government would grant concessions for frequencies in the 700 MHz and AWS bands.
The auctions will be open to all and four licences will be issued, to allow the three main players and either a minnow or a new entrant to acquire airwaves as well.
This would be the country’s first spectrum tender since 1999. The government has so far only made 190 MHz available to operators – well below the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) recommendation for the region.
Economy minister Axel Kicillof was quoted as saying the government was “going to do roadshows with different companies, investors and countries”.
The licences will come with build-out requirements and coverage commitments, and ministers have yet to suggest how much the auction could raise.
Telefonica subsidiary Movistar, America Movil subsidiary Claro and Telecom Argentina, which operates under the Personal brand, have roughly a third of the mobile market each.
Struggling NII Holding also has a Nextel unit in the country that operates an iDEN network with a relatively small subscriber base. The US-based company has put the business up for sale as it looks to focus on the Mexican and Brazilian markets.
