The board of Brazilian telecoms regulator Anatel has put the finishing touches on the draft of the tenders for spectrum in the 450MHz and 2.5GHz bands, and launched a public consultation, Business News Americas reports. The watchdog intends to offer frequencies in the 451MHz-458MHz and 461MHz-468MHz range – to be designated for coverage of rural areas, and 2500MHz-2690MHz bandwidth to be used for 4G. A statement on Anatel’s web site says that: ‘Winners of the [450MHz] tenders must progressively expand the penetration of voice and data telecommunications services in rural and remote areas, at affordable prices,’ adding that ‘broadband internet will also have to reach all rural area public schools located within the operator’s coverage area, free of charge.’
The regulator has also laid down a clear timetable for the initial rollout of 4G in Brazil, stipulating that the technology be available in all host cities for the 2013 football Confederations Cup, which is due to kick off by 31 May that year. In addition, cities hosting the World Cup in 2014 and those hosting training centres and other facilities will be required to be 4G-ready by 31 December 2013. Furthermore, state capitals, the federal district Brasília and cities with more than 500,000 inhabitants must be able to access 4G technologies by 31 May 2014, it said, and cities with more than 100,000 residents must be covered by 4G by December 2015, while those with 30,000-100,000 inhabitants should be onboard by end-2017. The public consultation is open for 30 days, with Anatel looking to hold the tenders by 30 April.