Guatemalaa country with 22.2 million inhabitants and a GDP of 87,000 million dollars in 2021, called its first tender for radio frequencies for the creation of fifth generation (5G) services and also for the strengthening of 4G-LTE networks.
It is the fifth country in Latin America to go to market with a spectrum auction for 5G services, after Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and the Dominican Republic.
Mexico has confirmed that it will start its first 5G tender in the second half of 2023, by bidding for the 600 MHz, 3.5 GHz and Band L bands in that process. The contest in Mexico would end in mid-2024.
“This auction sets a precedent in the country, since 75% of the funds collected will be used for digital connectivity in the national territory, as established by the National Digital Connectivity Plan, stipulated in Decree 3- 2023, Reforms to the General Telecommunications Law”, said the Guatemalan Superintendence of Telecommunications.
Guatemala said that 120 MHz of spectrum from frequencies will go to public auction, this in the 2.5 GHz band (2500-2550 MHz and 2604-2680 MHz).
The Guatemalan State outlines a collection of between 30 and 50 million dollars for all the lots of the frequencies in competition.
The closest market reference is the case of Uruguay, where the 5G contest left the Uruguayan State a total of 56.1 million dollars for batches of frequencies in the 3.5 Gigahertz band.
The bidding stage in Guatemala begins next June 2, but those interested must start the process on May 15, with the acquisition of the participation manual. The entire contest process would last up to six months.
Operators are expected Tigo from Millicom International Cellular and Claro of América Móvil are the natural interested parties in participating in the bidding contest.
In Guatemala, the operators Claro and Tigo have already launched 5G services in the 3.5 GHz band.
The Guatemalan Superintendence of Telecommunications cites that Tigo is the incumbent operator in the country, with 11 million 770,351 mobile users, translated as 57.53 of the local market.
While Claro has the mark of 8 million 688,672 clients, which means 42.47% of the Guatemalan cellular market.
