A leading trade association for mobile operators, the GSMA, has forecast that spectrum in the 700MHz band will be opened up in the coming years in several Latin American countries, including Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay.
The GSMA’s Latin America…
A leading trade association for mobile operators, the GSMA, has forecast that spectrum in the 700MHz band will be opened up in the coming years in several Latin American countries, including Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay.
The GSMA’s Latin America director, Sebastian Cabello, told TelecomFinance that Latin American markets were facing a “data traffic tsunami”, with almost all Latin American markets passing 100% penetration.
He forecast that Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay would be allocating the 700MHz band to mobile operators in the coming years.
This is part of the digital dividend, where spectrum once used by analogue broadcasters is now being freed up as those broadcasters move to digital services.
He predicted that Colombia would make this spectrum available in 2012/13, while Peru and Uruguay would allocate it next year.
The 700MHz band holds the advantage of offering long-distance coverage, thereby reducing the amount of capex required from telcos. This is particularly useful in providing coverage to remote rural areas.
Cabello said it was key for governments to achieve their national broadband plans or digital agendas.
In a statement last week, the GSMA forecast that the deployment of 700MHz spectrum would produce a range of benefits, including an US$3.1bn of additional GDP growth and US$2.6bn in additional tax revenue than would be raised through broadcasting services.
