5G can be activated in the 3.5GHz band in 459 more municipalities

This is an automated translation of the original release published in Portuguese.

By Anatel

As of May 30, 2023, providers that acquired lots in the 3.5GHz band will be able to ask Anatel to license and activate 5G stations in this band in 459 more municipalities, according to a decision made on Wednesday, May 24, at an Ordinary Meeting of the Monitoring Group for the Implementation of Solutions for Interference Problems in the 3,625-3,700MHz band – GAISPI.

With this decision, 1423 municipalities will have the 3.5GHz band released for use by standalone 5G stations, making a total of 138 million Brazilians, which is 64.7% of the Brazilian population.

To facilitate the follow-up of the municipalities released, GAISPI provides a data panel showing the municipalities in which the 3.5GHz band has been released and, also, the planning approved by GAISPI for the next releases.

It is important to emphasize that the release of the band does not mean that 5G networks will be installed immediately in the localities: the anticipated installation of fifth-generation stations in these cities depends on the individual planning of each provider.

The decision taken by GAISPI follows the guidelines of the 5G Public Notice and covers municipalities where the 3.5GHz Band Management Entity (EAF) has already started migrating the reception of the open and free television signal through satellite dishes in the satellite C band for the Ku band and completed the necessary actions to vacate this band by Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) systems, having installed filters to mitigate interference in all impacted FSS stations.

Those who receive Open TV transmissions through the satellite dish need to adapt the equipment to avoid any interference. Subscribers to the Federal Government's Single Register for Social Programs (CadÚnico) who receive a free-to-air satellite TV signal can request a free kit for adapting the equipment to Siga Antenado, EAF's trade name.

It is essential that an appointment be made for the installation of new equipment. More information is available on the Siga Antenado website. The telephone number 0800-729-2404 is also available.

Municipalities with the band already released, cities, neighborhoods and the number of licensed 5G standalone stations in the 3.5GHz band, as well as cell phones certified for 5G use, can be consulted on the dashboards available on the dashboard. Anatel data:

https://informacoes.anatel.gov.br/paineis/espectro-e-orbita/gaispi-liberacao-e-planejamento-3-5-ghz

https://informacoes.anatel.gov.br/paineis/outorga-e-licenciamento/estacoes-do-smp

https://informacoes.anatel.gov.br/paineis/certificacao-de-produtos/celulares-em-5g