Via an act published yesterday in Brazil’s Official Gazette, the country’s telecoms watchdog Anatel is today opening the bidding process for ‘band H’ 3G mobile spectrum and additional spare 2G (PCS) wireless frequencies, which could also be used for 3G services. According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database the H band radio frequency spectrum comprises a total of 20MHz, or 10MHz each in the 1945MHz-1955MHz and 2135MHz-2145MHz bands. Bidders will compete for the use of 3G sub-band H (10MHz + 10MHz), sub-band extension H(SE) (5MHz + 5MHz), and 900MHz/1800MHz sub-bands A(S), D(S), E(S) and M(S) as well as a PCS sub-band extension (SE), including sub-bands for TDD systems. The bidding documents will be available from Anatel’s website from 15:00 (local time) onwards. Interested parties will have 45 days to submit their bids, ahead of an auction expected to be held on 15 December. It was previously reported that around 44 regional concessions are expected to be auctioned, with anticipated starting bids totalling around BRL2.8 billion (USD1.6 billion).
Anatel has designed the spectrum auction to allow the possibility of a newcomer rolling out mobile 3G services throughout Brazil, whilst the overall aim of the band H distribution is to accelerate the spread of mobile broadband internet access to support the National Broadband Plan. According to GlobalComms, Nextel Telecomunicacoes has confirmed its interest in the spectrum on offer.