TMCnet News

4G Americas Applauds Colombian Government for Announcing New Spectrum Auction for Mobile Services
[October 30, 2014]

4G Americas Applauds Colombian Government for Announcing New Spectrum Auction for Mobile Services


(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) BELLEVUE, Wash., Oct. 28 -- 4G Americas issued the following news release: Colombia's National Spectrum Agency announced its intention to allocate an additional 25 MHz of spectrum (20 MHz in 900 and 5 MHz in 1900) for the offering of mobile services in the coming months. As spectrum is known to be the lifeblood of the wireless industry, 4G Americas commends this decision to make more spectrum available in order to propel society's economic and social development.



4G Americas recommends auctioning the spectrum in two blocks of 10 MHz for the 900 MHz band and one block of 5 MHz for the 1900 MHz band to facilitate the participation of a greater number of interested parties. It is important that all operators are able to participate in this auction as many have invested billions of dollars in their networks and should have the opportunity to continue to progress those networks with more spectrum.

Colombia currently has 49 million mobile subscribers out of the total 714 million mobile subscribers in the Latin American region. Mobile broadband data growth in Latin America is expected to increase by 900% during the 2013-2019 period. With these rapid developments taking place, the new auction will be another step towards facilitating the deployment of new mobile broadband technologies in the country. It will enable the Colombian population to have access to the latest innovations in applications, services and new devices. After the most recent spectrum allocation in Colombia which took place last year at an auction that allocated 190 MHz, Colombia was positioned as one of Latin America's leaders in the assignment of spectrum for the deployment of mobile broadband technologies, reaching a total of 395 MHz allocated.


In a 2013 study by 4G Americas, it was shown that only 21% of spectrum in Latin America was allocated compared to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) recommendations of 1300 MHz by 2015 to enable the rapid development of mobile broadband technologies.

"We are encouraged by the Colombian authorities' upcoming auction of spectrum to fuel the connected society and promote the deployment and adoption of mobile broadband technologies in the market," stated Jose Otero, Director of Latin America for 4G Americas. "Access to broadband presents numerous opportunities for personal and professional development as individuals can benefit from mobile health, education and government services and applications. We look forward to an open process that doesn't impose artificial barriers to any interested stakeholders that would like to participate in the auction." Otero added, "4G Americas hopes that this auction is successful and invites the Colombian government to continue on its path of leadership with the further allocation of spectrum for mobile broadband services in the near future." [Category: Telecommunications] TNS 30FurigayJof 141030-4918936 30FurigayJof (c) 2014 Targeted News Service

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]