Millimeter Waves and Mobile Telecommunications

Millimeter waves are presented as a vital resource to address the challenges facing the mobile telecommunications industry, particularly the need for sufficient capacity to meet increased traffic demands and diverse user profiles, alongside the notable surge in operational volume anticipated in the short term.

Mexico's Spectrum Report

In Mexico, the Radio Spectrum Unit of the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) published the report "Panorama of the radio spectrum in Mexico for fifth generation mobile services," estimating that there are 11,190 MHz suitable for 5G, including the bands: 26GHz, 38GHz, 42GHz, 48GHz, and 51GHz.

Additionally, the Annual Program for the Use and Exploitation of Frequency Bands 2023 states that 7,750 MHz of radio spectrum in millimeter bands will be made available to market operators for 5G development.

The frequency bands of 26 GHz (24.25-27.5 GHz), 38 GHz (37-40 GHz), and 42 GHz (42-43.5 GHz) will be released. Nevertheless, according to 5G Americas, Mexico is categorized as an intermediate case; while there is some identification of millimeter band spectrum, there are no concrete plans for its assignment.

Regulatory Challenges

One significant regulatory issue confronting our country is the high cost of the spectrum. Recently, these costs have resulted in deserted auctions, and several companies have surrendered frequencies that were economically unfeasible, as spectrum in Mexico ranks among the most expensive globally.

Harnessing the advantages of this resource necessitates technological and regulatory improvements.

Additional Information

For further insights, please refer to the report: IFT 5G Report - https://www.ift.org.mx/sites/default/files/industria/temasrelevantes/14863/documentos/04-estudiouer5g-imt.pdf