Brazil’s multi-band 5G spectrum public sale drew to an in depth in November 2021, producing complete commitments of BRL47.2 billion ($8.5 billion).
The public sale course of attracted bids from a combination of main gamers like Telefonica Brasil (Vivo), Claro Brasil, and TIM Brasil, established regional gamers equivalent to Algar Telecom and Sercomtel, and numerous lesser-known members.
Two years later, we study the respective progress of Brazil’s 5G licensees.
Claro Brasil
Spectrum Acquired: 2.3GHz, 3.5GHz, and 26GHz
5G Launch Date: July 2022
Complete 5G Cell Websites Deployed: 5,690 (September 2023)
Complete 5G Subscriptions: 6,189,799 (September 2023)
Two years after receiving its 5G licenses, Claro Brasil—the telco backed by regional powerhouse America Movil—is ready to declare the nation’s largest 5G subscription base. As of Q3 2023, there have been round 6.2 million customers related to its 5G Standalone community.
The “Large Three” operators all switched on their 5G networks in tandem, with synchronized launches in Brasília in July 2022.
The “Large Three” operators all switched on their 5G networks in tandem, with synchronized launches in Brasília in July 2022.
The three.5GHz band is being freed up on a rolling foundation, and to this point a complete of 2,456 cities and cities have been accredited for 5G, equating to 156 million Brazilians, or 73% of the inhabitants.
For its half, Claro at present has 5,690 5G cell websites in service, giving it protection of round 45% of the inhabitants.
Telefonica Brasil (Vivo)
Spectrum Acquired: 2.3GHz, 3.5GHz, and 26GHz
5G Launch Date: July 2022
Complete 5G Cell Websites Deployed: 3,542 (September 2023)
Complete 5G Subscriptions: 6,105,140 (September 2023)
Vivo—Brazil’s largest cell operator by subscriptions—is preserving tempo with Claro, with 6.1 million 5G accounts on its books.
Apparently, Vivo’s 5G footprint is much smaller than Claro’s community, spanning 3,542 cell websites. Vivo is optimistic of boosting its 5G community through a long-gestating “industrial community exploitation contract” with Winity Telecom.
If the RAN sharing settlement involves fruition, Vivo will acquire entry to 2×5MHz of Winity’s 2×10MHz spectrum holdings in 1,120 municipalities, in change for reciprocal entry to its personal community.
TIM Brasil
Spectrum Acquired: 2.3GHz, 3.5GHz, and 26GHz
5G Launch Date: July 2022
Complete 5G Cell Websites Deployed: 7,590 (September 2023)
Complete 5G Subscriptions: 3,776,205 (September 2023)
Like its chief rivals, TIM Brasil switched on its 3.5GHz 5G community in July 2022, and has gone on to deploy the nation’s most expansive fifth-generation cell community.
The community spans a whopping 7,590 cell websites, which is known to offer protection to round 45% of the inhabitants. This gives a sign of the extent of rollout exercise required to make 5G ubiquitous in Latin America’s largest telecom market.
Though it has made huge inroads by way of 5G infrastructure, TIM Brasil claimed just below 3.8 million 5G subscriptions, inserting it properly behind Claro and Vivo within the pecking order.
Brisanet Telecomunicacoes
Spectrum Acquired: 2.3GHz and three.5GHz
5G Launch Date: August 2023
Complete 5G Cell Websites Deployed: 309 (September 2023)
Complete 5G Subscriptions: Undisclosed
Ceara-based ISP Brisanet acquired a trio of 5G licenses in November 2021’s spectrum public sale: a pair of 80MHz 3.5GHz licenses protecting the Northeast and the Midwest, alongside a 50MHz block of two.3GHz spectrum protecting the Northeast.
Huawei was chosen as Brisanet’s 5G vendor in Might 2022, and the telco switched on 4G/5G connectivity in August 2023 utilizing the two.3GHz band. It at present provides cell entry to a possible a million individuals throughout 24 cities through 309 cell websites. The corporate expects to cowl 5 million individuals in 40 municipalities by end-2023, with that determine rising to 14 million by December 2024.
As per the phrases of its 5G license, Brisanet is dedicated to activating fifth-generation cell providers in 1,437 cities with lower than 30,000 inhabitants between 2026 and 2029, however is optimistic of fulfilling all regulatory necessities earlier than the tip of 2026.
Algar Telecom
Spectrum Acquired: 2.3GHz, 3.5GHz, and 26GHz
5G Launch Date: December 2021
Complete 5G Cell Websites Deployed: 139 (September 2023)
Complete 5G Subscriptions: Undisclosed
Algar secured 5G-suitable frequencies within the 2.3GHz, 3.5GHz, and 26GHz bands, happening to launch 5G Non Standalone providers utilizing the two.3GHz band on December 15, 2021. From launch, the community coated chosen components of Uberlândia and Uberaba, in addition to Franca in São Paulo.
Neither trade watchdog Anatel nor Algar Telecom have issued statistics relating to the uptake of the 5G providers, though it’s value noting that Algar’s cell community serves way more M2M/IoT accounts than it does cell telephony prospects.
Algar operates 139 5G cell websites spanning Uberlândia, Uberaba, and Franca, however is on the right track to increase its 5G footprint to cowl 32 cities and cities by end-2023.
Unifique
Spectrum Acquired: 3.5GHz (as a part of Consorcio 5G Sul)
5G Launch Date: November 2023
Complete 5G Cell Websites Deployed: Undisclosed; protection of Garuva
Complete 5G Subscriptions: Undisclosed
Alongside fellow fastened line operator Ligga Telecom (previously referred to as Copel Telecom), Unifique efficiently bid on a regional 3.5GHz license in November 2021’s 5G spectrum public sale.
Through the “Consorcio 5G Sul” consortium, the businesses agreed to pay BRL73.6 million for an 80MHz block of spectrum (3620MHz-3700MHz). Nonetheless, “goodwill” of roughly BRL69 million will likely be transformed into funding commitments serving areas within the south of the nation. (Observe: Unifique holds a 62.77% stake within the JV, whereas Copel owns the remaining 37.23% share.)
In April 2023, Unifique enlisted Chinese language vendor ZTE to provide 5G gear to assist its community rollout. Unifique went on to launch 5G cell know-how on November 11, 2023, in Garuva (Santa Catarina).
By the tip of 2029, Unifique intends to supply 5G connectivity in all municipalities with lower than 30,000 inhabitants within the states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, along with different cities of curiosity, equivalent to state capitals.
Ligga Telecom (previously Copel Telecom)
Spectrum Acquired: 3.5GHz (as a part of Consorcio 5G Sul)
5G Launch Date: FWA launch slated for November 2023 launch (unconfirmed)
Complete 5G Cell Websites Deployed: 20 FWA cell websites
Complete 5G Subscriptions: Zero
Ligga Telecom (previously Copel Telecom) is within the technique of launching a 5G fastened wi-fi entry (FWA) community in Manaus utilizing its 3.5GHz spectrum.
CEO Adeodato Volpi Netto confirmed that the telco has deployed 20 FWA cell websites in District 1 of Manaus Free Commerce Zone, utilizing public lighting infrastructure to accommodate its Nokia transmission gear. The brand new community was earmarked to go reside on November 20, 2023, however no official affirmation of the launch has been forthcoming.
Observe: sister firm Sercomtel efficiently bid on a 1×80MHz block of 5G-suitable 3.5GHz spectrum protecting the North and São Paulo; Sercomtel—which hasn’t truly upgraded its 3G networks to 4G—has but to deploy any 5G infrastructure.
Winity Telecom
Spectrum Acquired: 700MHz
5G Launch Date: Pending; Winity is obliged to cowl 250 unserved areas by December 2023
Complete 5G Cell Websites Deployed: One (September 2023)
Complete 5G Subscriptions: Zero
Lastly, Winity Telecom—a holding firm backed by various asset administration agency Patria Investimentos—efficiently bid on a nationwide 2×10MHz 700MHz license in Brazil’s 5G spectrum public sale. Winity paid BRL1.428 billion ($276.8 million), the best bid for a single spectrum lot within the public sale.
In September 2022, Winity enlisted Amdocs to assist the rollout of its 4G and 5G networks throughout distant communities in Brazil. Then, in June 2023, it teamed up with satellite tv for pc operator Hughes do Brasil (HughesNet) and regional participant Algar Telecom to launch its “RuralChip” LTE pilot mission.
The service went reside on June 16, 2023, utilizing Winity’s spectrum within the 700MHz band. The pilot occurred in two Maranhão-based cities: Presidente Juscelino and Cururupu.
Hughes provided every cell website with a high-capacity backhaul resolution, whereas Algar supplied the usage of its community operations heart and information heart. Ericsson gear was utilized in Presidente Juscelino, whereas the Cururupu cell website leveraged Nokia know-how.
The newcomer plans to construct 5,000 cell towers by 2029 and set up itself as Brazil’s first wholesale operator. Extra pressingly, nonetheless, Winity is obliged to cowl 250 unserved areas by December 2023.
Winity is obliged to cowl 250 unserved areas by December 2023.
Worryingly, Winity has solely deployed a solitary 5G base station to this point, and its broader rollout ambitions are more likely to depend on the troubled community sharing deal it signed with Vivo coming to fruition.
