The National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) reported that five capitals in the North Region will have, as of the 6th, the fifth generation internet band (5G) released for entry into operation. The new technology allows faster, more stable data transmission with lower response time (latency).

The announcement – ​​regarding the start of services in Belém, Macapá, Manaus, Porto Velho and Rio Branco – was made today (4), in Brasília, by counselor Moisés Queiroz Moreira, from the Monitoring Group for the Implementation of Solutions for Interference Problems in the range from 3,625 to 3,700 MHz (Gaispi).

These frequencies for 5G were auctioned in November 2021. The initial forecast was that the service would be available in all capitals by July 31, and that in other cities in the country the activation would be gradual until 2029.

“It was a successful work in this initial phase, despite being difficult and [involving] learning, because we were not fully aware of the problems that could arise”, said the counselor, referring to the completion of the first stage of delivery of the 3-year range, 5 GHz, to be explored by three operators (Vivo, TIM and Claro) in all the capitals of the country.

According to the coordinator of Gaispi, Henrique Gomes Pinheiro, operators have installed, so far, “more than twice” the number of antennas provided for in the 5G public notice.

“The minimum was 2,528 stations [for the three operators]. However, 5,275 have already been installed”, he said, informing that, with this, 5G is already present in 5% of the 93 thousand stations installed in the country.

He added that the service available in the 27 capitals reaches 24% of the Brazilian population and has the potential to reach 50 million Brazilians.

North region
According to counselor Moisés Moreira, operators have until November 28 to connect all stations planned for the North Region. “There will be 57 antennas in Belém; 18 in Macapa; 84 in Manaus; 21 in Porto Velho; and 15 in Rio Branco”, he detailed.

Regarding the new stage foreseen in the public notice, which is to take 5G in this range to cities with more than 500,000 inhabitants, the challenge now is to move forward in cleaning the spectrum used – which is the same as for satellite dishes. The forecast is that this new stage will begin to be implemented in January 2023.

In order to make this process viable, antenna kits will be distributed that will replace the satellite dishes to families registered in the federal government's single register of social programs. In this sense, campaigns are planned to inform the population about how to schedule an exchange of equipment.