Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency (Agencia Nacional de Telecomunicacoes, Anatel) has confirmed that a further 15 municipalities have been approved to utilise the 3.5GHz band for 5G services. Of the locations in question, six have a population of more than 500,000 inhabitants, and can expect to receive 5G access from 1 January 2023. These cities are: Ananindeua (PA); Aparecida de Goiania (GO); Caxias do Sul (RS); Jaboatao dos Guararapes (PE); Joinville (SC); and Londrina (PR).

The remaining nine are smaller municipalities that are part of metropolitan regions of capitals, or are situated close to larger municipalities. Coverage obligations for these locations do not come into force until 2025, however. These are: Diadema (SP); Mosque (RJ); Nilopolis (RJ); Olinda (PE); Paulista (PE); Sao Caetano do Sul (SP); San Francisco do Sul (SC); Sao Joao de Meriti (RJ); and Sao Jose (SC).

According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database, since 6 October all 26 state capitals – and federal capital Brasilia – have been approved for Standalone (SA) 5G connectivity, with the cities receiving the green-light on a rolling basis. Claro, Vivo and TIM currently operate 5G services in all locations, thus fulfilling their licensing obligations.

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