New research from analytics company Opensignal, in collaboration with the GSMA Spectrum team, highlights that countries licensing large amounts of 3.5 GHz mid-band spectrum are experiencing the fastest 5G networks in Latin America.
While 5G technology is progressing across the region, network performance varies significantly between countries. These differences are largely attributed to spectrum availability. According to Opensignal’s analysis, download speeds increase almost linearly with the average amount of available bandwidth.
Users in Brazil and Uruguay, who benefit from the highest amount of 5G spectrum bandwidth, enjoy some of the fastest download speeds in the region.
In Brazil, the combination of 5G standalone (SA) technology and the deployment of spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band has led to substantial performance improvements. On average, Brazil’s 5G download speeds are nearly 11 times faster than 4G connectivity, showcasing the benefits that countries without 5G services are missing.
The positive impact of licensing large amounts of 3.5 GHz spectrum extends beyond Latin America.
Recent analysis of the US market by Opensignal shows that increased spectrum capacity is enhancing fixed wireless access (FWA) availability and performance. FWA has become the primary driver for new broadband growth, accounting for 90% of new connections in both urban and rural areas.
Mid-band spectrum has been crucial for 5G success and future expansion. By the end of Q1 2024, over 75% of network launches had utilized the 3.5 GHz range.
The analysis also indicates that most Latin American countries rely on 3.5 GHz to deliver 5G. Mid-bands are projected to generate the largest portion of 5G’s socio-economic benefits, contributing over $610 billion to global GDP by 2030, which is nearly 65% of the overall socio-economic value generated by 5G.
Despite the significant impact of the 3.5 GHz band, ongoing spectrum licensing is essential. Mobile networks will require, on average, 2 GHz of mid-band spectrum per country by 2030.
Proper spectrum availability is crucial for continued success in Latin America and beyond. Roadmaps for additional capacity are necessary for the sustainable growth of mobile and fixed services.
The future availability of the 6 GHz band will play a significant role in this effort. Last year, WRC-23 identified the 6 GHz band (6.425-7.125 GHz) for mobile use across all ITU regions, establishing global harmonized conditions for its use. This harmonization brings together billions of people into a unified 6 GHz mobile footprint and is a critical step for the 6 GHz equipment ecosystem.
To stay at the forefront or catch up with more successful neighbors, countries should implement the following steps:
- Ensure existing mid-bands are fully assigned to mobile operators on a technology-neutral basis, allowing them to be used for the latest technologies.
- Make the 3.3-3.8 GHz band available for mobile use.
- Make the 6 GHz band (6.425-7.125 GHz) available for licensed, macro-cell mobile use.
