5G Progress Report: Brazil

Brazil’s multi-band 5G spectrum public sale drew to an in depth in November 2021, producing whole commitments of BRL47.2 billion ($8.5 billion).

The public sale course of attracted bids from a combination of main gamers like Telefonica Brasil (Vivo), Claro Brasil, and TIM Brasil, established regional gamers akin to Algar Telecom and Sercomtel, and quite a lot of lesser-known individuals.

Two years later, we study the respective progress of Brazil’s 5G licensees. 

Claro Brasil

Spectrum Acquired: 2.3GHz, 3.5GHz, and 26GHz
5G Launch Date: July 2022
Complete 5G Cell Websites Deployed: 5,690 (September 2023)
Complete 5G Subscriptions: 6,189,799 (September 2023)

Two years after receiving its 5G licenses, Claro Brasil—the telco backed by regional powerhouse America Movil—is ready to declare the nation’s largest 5G subscription base. As of Q3 2023, there have been round 6.2 million customers related to its 5G Standalone community.  

The “Massive Three” operators all switched on their 5G networks in tandem, with synchronized launches in Brasília in July 2022. 

The “Massive Three” operators all switched on their 5G networks in tandem, with synchronized launches in Brasília in July 2022. 

The three.5GHz band is being freed up on a rolling foundation, and to this point a complete of 2,456 cities and cities have been authorised for 5G, equating to 156 million Brazilians, or 73% of the inhabitants.

For its half, Claro at present has 5,690 5G cell websites in service, giving it protection of round 45% of the inhabitants.

Telefonica Brasil (Vivo)

Spectrum Acquired: 2.3GHz, 3.5GHz, and 26GHz
5G Launch Date: July 2022
Complete 5G Cell Websites Deployed: 3,542 (September 2023)
Complete 5G Subscriptions: 6,105,140 (September 2023)

Vivo—Brazil’s largest cellular operator by subscriptions—is conserving tempo with Claro, with 6.1 million 5G accounts on its books.

Curiously, Vivo’s 5G footprint is way smaller than Claro’s community, spanning 3,542 cell websites. Vivo is optimistic of boosting its 5G community by way of a long-gestating “industrial community exploitation contract” with Winity Telecom.

Ceara-based ISP Brisanet acquired a trio of 5G licenses in November 2021’s spectrum public sale: a pair of 80MHz 3.5GHz licenses overlaying the Northeast and the Midwest, alongside a 50MHz block of two.3GHz spectrum overlaying the Northeast.

Huawei was chosen as Brisanet’s 5G vendor in Might 2022, and the telco switched on 4G/5G connectivity in August 2023 utilizing the two.3GHz band. It at present presents cellular entry to a possible a million individuals throughout 24 cities by way of 309 cell websites. The corporate expects to cowl 5 million individuals in 40 municipalities by end-2023, with that determine rising to 14 million by December 2024.

As per the phrases of its 5G license, Brisanet is dedicated to activating fifth-generation cellular companies in 1,437 cities with lower than 30,000 inhabitants between 2026 and 2029, however is optimistic of fulfilling all regulatory necessities earlier than the top of 2026.

Algar Telecom

Spectrum Acquired: 2.3GHz, 3.5GHz, and 26GHz
5G Launch Date: December 2021
Complete 5G Cell Websites Deployed: 139 (September 2023)
Complete 5G Subscriptions: Undisclosed

Algar secured 5G-suitable frequencies within the 2.3GHz, 3.5GHz, and 26GHz bands, happening to launch 5G Non Standalone companies utilizing the two.3GHz band on December 15, 2021. From launch, the community coated chosen components of Uberlândia and Uberaba, in addition to Franca in São Paulo.

Neither business watchdog Anatel nor Algar Telecom have issued statistics relating to the uptake of the 5G companies, though it’s price noting that Algar’s cellular community serves way more M2M/IoT accounts than it does cellular telephony clients.

Algar operates 139 5G cell websites spanning Uberlândia, Uberaba, and Franca, however is heading in the right direction to increase its 5G footprint to cowl 32 cities and cities by end-2023.

Unifique

Spectrum Acquired: 3.5GHz (as a part of Consorcio 5G Sul)
5G Launch Date: November 2023
Complete 5G Cell Websites Deployed: Undisclosed; protection of Garuva
Complete 5G Subscriptions: Undisclosed

Alongside fellow fastened line operator Ligga Telecom (previously referred to as Copel Telecom), Unifique efficiently bid on a regional 3.5GHz license in November 2021’s 5G spectrum public sale.

By way of the “Consorcio 5G Sul” consortium, the businesses agreed to pay BRL73.6 million for an 80MHz block of spectrum (3620MHz-3700MHz). Nonetheless, “goodwill” of roughly BRL69 million can be transformed into funding commitments serving areas within the south of the nation. (Notice: Unifique holds a 62.77% stake within the JV, whereas Copel owns the remaining 37.23% share.)

In April 2023, Unifique enlisted Chinese language vendor ZTE to produce 5G tools to assist its community rollout. Unifique went on to launch 5G cellular know-how on November 11, 2023, in Garuva (Santa Catarina).

By the top of 2029, Unifique intends to supply 5G connectivity in all municipalities with lower than 30,000 inhabitants within the states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, along with different cities of curiosity, akin to state capitals.

Ligga Telecom (previously Copel Telecom)

Spectrum Acquired: 3.5GHz (as a part of Consorcio 5G Sul)
5G Launch Date: FWA launch slated for November 2023 launch (unconfirmed)
Complete 5G Cell Websites Deployed: 20 FWA cell websites 
Complete 5G Subscriptions: Zero

Ligga Telecom (previously Copel Telecom) is within the means of launching a 5G fastened wi-fi entry (FWA) community in Manaus utilizing its 3.5GHz spectrum.

CEO Adeodato Volpi Netto confirmed that the telco has deployed 20 FWA cell websites in District 1 of Manaus Free Commerce Zone, utilizing public lighting infrastructure to deal with its Nokia transmission tools. The brand new community was earmarked to go stay on November 20, 2023, however no official affirmation of the launch has been forthcoming.

Notice: sister firm Sercomtel efficiently bid on a 1×80MHz block of 5G-suitable 3.5GHz spectrum overlaying the North and São Paulo; Sercomtel—which hasn’t really upgraded its 3G networks to 4G—has but to deploy any 5G infrastructure.

Winity Telecom

Spectrum Acquired: 700MHz
5G Launch Date: Pending; Winity is obliged to cowl 250 unserved areas by December 2023
Complete 5G Cell Websites Deployed: One (September 2023)
Complete 5G Subscriptions: Zero

Lastly, Winity Telecom—a holding firm backed by various asset administration agency Patria Investimentos—efficiently bid on a nationwide 2×10MHz 700MHz license in Brazil’s 5G spectrum public sale. Winity paid BRL1.428 billion ($276.8 million), the very best bid for a single spectrum lot within the public sale.

In September 2022, Winity enlisted Amdocs to assist the rollout of its 4G and 5G networks throughout distant communities in Brazil. Then, in June 2023, it teamed up with satellite tv for pc operator Hughes do Brasil (HughesNet) and regional participant Algar Telecom to launch its “RuralChip” LTE pilot challenge.

The service went stay on June 16, 2023, utilizing Winity’s spectrum within the 700MHz band. The pilot occurred in two Maranhão-based cities: Presidente Juscelino and Cururupu.

Hughes equipped every cell web site with a high-capacity backhaul answer, whereas Algar supplied the usage of its community operations middle and knowledge middle. Ericsson tools was utilized in Presidente Juscelino, whereas the Cururupu cell web site leveraged Nokia know-how.

The newcomer plans to construct 5,000 cell towers by 2029 and set up itself as Brazil’s first wholesale operator. Extra pressingly, nevertheless, Winity is obliged to cowl 250 unserved areas by December 2023.

Winity is obliged to cowl 250 unserved areas by December 2023.

Worryingly, Winity has solely deployed a solitary 5G base station to this point, and its broader rollout ambitions are prone to depend on the troubled community sharing deal it signed with Vivo coming to fruition.