Investment in the 700 MHz spectrum is one of the most appropriate options to accelerate adoption of mobile broadband services in Latin America, said 4G Americas.
The 700 MHz band will be cleared as a result of the migration from analog to digital television in the Latin America region. The band is suitable for providing wireless service coverage in rural areas and offers better signal coverage than higher band spectrum for inside buildings and homes.
“These LTE mobile broadband data capabilities provide a huge opportunity for the governments in the region to boost their connectivity programs and increase the number of people that can benefit from e-learning, telemedicine or e-government initiatives,” said Jose Otero, 4G Americas Director of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Three Latin American countries such as Bolivia, Ecuador and Panama have offered services on the 700 MHz band, while eight countries in the region have either allocated or are in the process of allocating this band for mobile services.
The 700 MHz band, comprising from 698 MHz to 806 MHz in the Americas region, has better signal propagation than higher frequencies, such as 1700-2100 MHz and 2500 MHz.
By 2020, six billion people globally will be covered by mobile broadband networks deployed on 700 MHz. Out of this total, close to four billion people in Asia and Latin America will be covered by networks on 700 MHz (band 28).
The telecom analysis report said the use of different channeling plans on the 700 MHz band might raise interference in areas such as on the border between Mexico (with APT channeling) and the United States (U.S. channeling), or the borders between Bolivia (U.S. channeling) and Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Peru, which have chosen APT channeling.
editor@telecomlead.com
