Claro to expand 5G DSS in Brazil

América Móvil’s Claro Brasil plans to activate 5G DSS (dynamic spectrum sharing) networks in 12 new Brazilian municipalities by the end of the year, according to CEO Paulo Cesar Teixeira.

Details of the new localities will be disclosed next week, the executive said during the Futurecom Digital week on Tuesday.

The company is also readying a telehealth and remote learning connectivity program in Paraisópolis, one of São Paulo’s largest favelas, also based on 5G DSS.

DSS technology allows for the relocation and management of existing 4G spectrum to provide faster speeds, but it is not "pure" 5G. For users, it is necessary to have a compatible phone. 

An auction of frequencies for 5G in the 3.5GHz band in Brazil, which has been the main frequency adopted for the technology globally, is planned for next year.

According to Claro, all investments made in 5G DSS will be used to leverage the definitive implementation of 5G with the subsequent addition of the 3.5GHz and 26GHz bands. Regulator Anatel will also award frequencies in the 700MHz and 2.3GHz bands.

Claro’s first 5G DSS network was activated in selected areas of São Paulo city in July. 

That was the Mexican group's first such implementation in Latin America. The network was later also activated in parts of Rio de Janeiro.

Teixeira said the technology is being widely adopted in the US and China and that in the areas where it is available in Brazil speeds topped 400Mbps – compared with maximum speeds of 100Mbps in 4G. Investment figures were not disclosed.

América Móvil invested 91bn Mexican pesos (US$4.36bn) in Q3, down 9% from the same period last year. Hit by the pandemic, the company cut its 2020 capex by US$1.5bn to US$6bn.

In Q3, the capex went to 4.5G technology, fiber rollouts – mainly in Mexico, Colombia and Brazil – and preparing networks for 5G launches.

AMERICANET

In related news, Brazilian operator Americanet started testing 5G in Pindamonhangaba, in Sao Paulo state, in partnership with Nokia.

The operator said it obtained from Anatel a temporary license to use the 3.5GHz and 26GHz frequency bands for the tests.

The company will take 5G to 25 homes in the city for two months, Americanet CEO Lincoln Oliveira said.

According to Oliveira, the demo represents further proof that ISPs will be able to use FWA (fixed wireless access) technology to bring high capacity connections to small and remote localities.

Founded in 1996, Americanet owns a 20,000km fiber network and is present in 250 municipalities in eight states.