Next Monday (Sep 19), seven more Brazilian state capitals should have the 3.5 gigahertz (GHz) band of 5G, also known as standalone 5G. The launch was approved by the country’s telecom authority Anatel in Aracaju, Boa Vista, Campo Grande, Cuiabá, Maceió, São Luís, and Teresina.
With the move, 22 capitals will have access to standalone 5G. Only five capitals in North Brazil are yet to have the technology: Porto Velho, Rio Branco, Macapá, Manaus, and Belém.
Anatel’s official schedule stipulates the activation of standalone 5G in all capitals by November 27. The date, however, may be brought forward if operators manage to complete the installation of antennas and filters before this deadline.
Guidelines
According to Anatel, operators Claro, TIM, and Vivo—which won the national licenses for the 3.5 GHz band in the auction late in 2021—must install a minimum number of 5G antennas in each capital. At this stage, the auction notice mandates the activation of one 5G antenna for every 100 thousand people. The number of stations should increase as the technology advances. In the countryside, the standalone 5G signal is expected to be activated gradually until 2029.
