Mexico’s Movistar has completed the first phase of it network migration initiative, under which it has connected subscribers across several states to infrastructure operated by AT&T Mexico.
Movistar (Telefonica Moviles Mexico) signed an agreement with AT&T Mexico in November 2019 which allowed it to access capacity on the latter’s nationwide 3G and 4G networks, along with new access technologies yet to be deployed.
The move enabled Movistar to relinquish its entire existing spectrum holding, and in the first quarter of 2020 it returned its 1900MHz and 2500MHz to the regulator for US$100 million. This also freed it from the coverage requirements stipulated for holders of 2500MHz spectrum.
Subscribers in Baja California Norte, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Durango, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas have all been migrated. Movistar has divided its footprint into several regions to execute the project, and these states comprise Regions 1, 3 and 4.
Under the first phase, Movistar confirmed that 38 cities were connected to AT&T’s LTE network – among them Acapulco, Cordoba and Puerto Vallarta. This has provided a further 6.2 million Mexicans with access to 4G.
CommsUpdate reports that the second phase of the migration will be enacted over the course of 2021.
