INFOGRAPHIC
Low bands will be crucial to ensure coverage in Latin America
5G Americas presents this infographic to better understand the importance of the so-called ‘ low bands ’ or ‘ digital dividend ’, which correspond to the 600 and 700 MHz frequencies and will serve to improve 5G services in Latin America .
Recently , 5G Americas introduced the report Status of the 600 MHz and 700 MHz Radio Spectrum Bands in Latin America , which reveals essential elements regarding the use of the so-called low bands of the electromagnetic spectrum for use in 5G and later mobile networks .
The report explains that : “ The first digital dividend refers to the 700 MHz band , which the mobile services are using in some Latin American countries . There is currently a second digital dividend for the 600 MHz band , with a similar conceptualization of signal migration .”
In Latin America , all countries are going through contrasting times adopting their fifth-generation mobile networks . Some are very advanced , and others have barely finished organizing key elements such as the legislation and regulation that must support technological and telecommunications operations .
Similarly , “ US assigned the 600 MHz band in 2016 , while Canada auctioned it in 2019 and Mexico announced plans to auction it between 2021 and 2022 . Some countries such as Argentina , Brazil , Chile , Colombia and Peru are studying the band ’ s use for 5G services in the future ,” said 5G Americas in the report .
In this regard , 5G Americas ’ study explains that : “ Beyond the ITU ( International Telecommunications Union ) recommendations in terms of the amount of spectrum , for mobile operators to use the radioelectric resource , it must be granted and be clean , that is , without interference of other services . These last two steps fall on the administrations of the countries and are , ultimately , the ones that take the longest time .”
How to clean and take advantage of the spectrum ?
The frequencies of 600 MHz and 700 MHz , known as the ‘ digital dividend ’, were historically used by analog television services . Thanks to the compression used in digital transmissions , there is a good space in the spectrum to take advantage of soon .
In Latin America , all countries are going through contrasting times adopting their fifth-generation mobile networks .
The sooner governments approve regulation and methodologies to use the low bands of 600 MHz and 700 MHz , the sooner citizens will take advantage of services based on 5G . New services include critical elements for competitiveness and the development of new business opportunities into the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution .
2022 : A decisive year
Among the main conclusions of the 5G Americas study , condensed in this infographic , are :
• One of the fundamental characteristics of the 700 MHz band is its great capacity for signal propagation , which makes it attractive for expanding the coverage of wireless broadband services in areas with low population density , with a network deployment cheaper and faster .
• The 600 MHz band ( 614 – 698 MHz ) can provide more capacity for mobile services in low bands and give more coverage in rural areas and superior penetration in interior spaces .
• In Latin America , some countries are already considering the potential of the 600 MHz band . Still , not all administrations have allocated the band for
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