Anatel to auction 700MHz spectrum frequencies for 4G by December 2013

Bloomberg News says that the Brazilian government, through its national regulator Anatel, is considering auctioning spectrum in the 700MHz band – currently used by television broadcasters in the country – for 4G LTE services by December 2013. The report quotes Anatel president Joao Rezende as saying that the spectrum would be freed up by June 2016 after TV networks such as Globo Comunicacao e Participacoes SA and Grupo Record complete their switch to digital TV broadcasts. Brazil’s broadcasters must make the transition under a June 2006 presidential decree. In an interview yesterday, Rezende confirmed that the watchdog hopes to conclude a study into switching the 700MHz frequencies from TV to wireless 4G use. Once that process is complete, the agency and the communications ministry will put together an auction plan, he said.