Brazil’s Telecall eyes sharing deals with Colombian telcos for 5G deployment

Brazilian operator Telecall, a new entrant to Colombia’s mobile market, is seeking infrastructure, roaming and RAN sharing deals with Colombian carriers to develop its 5G network, Bruno Ajuz, senior VP and co-founder, told BNamericas.

Telecall acquired an 80MHz block of spectrum in the 3.5GHz band in the country’s December 5G auction. Other winners were local incumbents Tigo-Movistar, WOM and Claro.

In line with the auction requirements and schedules, Tigo-Movistar and Claro have already activated their 5G networks. WOM Colombia, currently facing a bankruptcy protection process like its sister company WOM Chile, have not. And neither have Telecall.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Futurecom conference in São Paulo, Ajuz pointed out that unlike incumbents, including WOM, a newcomer like Telecall has to build a new mobile network from the ground up.

The Brazilian telco will operate a standalone 5G, which is also known as “pure 5G”. This means having 5G-specific radio, core and hardware equipment for the services provision.

It differs from other telcos, who are deploying 5G on top of part of their existing 4G network equipment and systems - a format known as non-standalone 5G.

Despite the differences, some structures could be shared. Ajuz, who is also the company’s CMO, said it is a challenge to cover Colombia with a completely new network and that is why sharing is necessary.

Telecall is now talking to all mobile players in the market for partnerships, including WOM, he said.

Colombian telecoms regulator CRC allowed the company to launch its 5G network in 2025, according to Ajuz. The second payment for the 5G license, due this year, was also moved to next year.

Local authorities have advocated for network sharing and, above all, an outcome for WOM that does not affect its services to consumers, said Ajuz.

“CRC is being very flexible and supportive, largely because the local market is undergoing some challenges. Sharing and partnerships are key.”

TIMETABLE

Telecall was initially expected to activate its 5G network in Q3, and it will now take place in the first quarter of 2025, said Ajuz.

The company is still in the process of selecting equipment and systems suppliers. The core network provider has been defined and the next steps are hardware and tower firms.

The Brazilian firm was targeting over 420 sites installed by the end of this year, although its obligation would be only 213, Ajuz previously told BNamericas.

Telecall’s business plan for 5G in Colombia foresees 1,614 sites, reaching 1mn users, in 2025; 3,081 sites and 2mn users by the end of the following year; and 4,108 sites and 3mn users at end-2027.

In an internal market study, Telecall estimates that Colombia has 23,692 towers available for rent. 

The market is led by Sites LatAm with some 8,000, followed by American Tower (around 5,000), Phoenix Tower (2,700), Andean Telecom Partners (1,800) and others, including TowerNEX, Tower One and IHS Towers, according to a market assessment carried out by the telco and presented earlier this year.