In January 2012, Anatel opened the LTE-spectrum-auction rules for public consultation. The rules included details on coverage obligations for winning operators, the use of equipment produced locally and network sharing. In addition, in case no company shows an interest in the 450MHz spectrum tender, Anatel will combine 450MHz blocks to 2.5GHz blocks in the main 2.5GHz auction. Anatel aims to make the new technology available for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Nelson Takayanagi, Superintendent of the Private Sector at Brazilian telecoms regulator Anatel, has indicated that the body sees mobile broadband as having far greater growth prospects in Brazil than fixed, estimating that the number of mobile broadband accesses will reach 1bn by 2022.
Brazil has seen its number of broadband subscribers increase 150-fold over the past ten years to reach 15.5 million accesses by the end of 2010, with 19.2 per cent growth last year alone, according to the annual report from the country’s National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel).
Nextel Brazil, a subsidiary of NII holdings, has won 20MHz licences in the 1.9 – 2.1GHz band in an auction conducted by Brazilian regulator Anatel. Nextel was successful in its bids for 11 of the 13 lots on offer, which will give it coverage of 182.4 million people, or 97 per cent of the population.