Mexico’s regulator Cofetel has approved proposals to use the 700MHz band for mobile. Industry observers have expressed hope that other Latin American operators could be spurred to do the same in the wake of the development.
The Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) proposed using the ‘digital dividend’ spectrum as it is considered particularly suited for providing LTE and other 4G services. The band is already used for mobile services in several other Latin American countries, including Chile, Colombia and Costa Rica.
The GSMA has commended the plan, with the association’s Latin America Director Sebastian Cabello saying: “This will help progress the allocation of the Digital Dividend spectrum to mobile and realise the social and economic benefits associated with mobile broadband. The GSMA encourages countries in Latin America to work together to implement a harmonised 700MHz band plan for mobile services.”