Ecuador still looks at the implementation of 5G technology from afar

2020 was the promised year for the arrival of 5G technology and that announcement was made in 2019 by the Minister of Telecommunications, Andrés Michelena, as part of the Ecuador Digital government proposal. And in 2021 the country still sees the implementation of this technology from afar.

Two years ago, Claro, Movistar and CNT carried out 5G demonstrations in Quito and Guayaquil, so that citizens could learn about it and in some cases live that experience. And they taught it, for example, through virtual reality video games or on panels that displayed the speed of a mobile phone.

The assessment report for the 700 megahertz (MHz) and 2.5 GHz band was recently delivered by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). And Minister Michelena was present at this event, who indicated that based on this assessment of the gangs, the international organization was asked to carry out an assessment of the3.5 gigahertz (GHz) band, equivalent to 5G technology.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Telecommunications, these will be inputs for the new Government so that it can define "the competitive process to renegotiate contracts with operators and the opening of the country to 5G technology."

• What is the 5G network and in which countries it can work

But there are still steps left for the new technology, says theexecutive director of the Association of Telecommunications Companies (Asetel), Jorge Cevallos.https://08ec97e8a0f2a9733b9536697af4fd52.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

“So far there have been three or four operational tests. We are green in the face of an implementation process, because the policy for 5G is not defined, unlike other countries... The implementation of the technology, which is the first step, has not even been put out to tender; Progress has been made in clearing the bands that could be used, but as I said, there is no 5G spectrum policy,” he mentions.

The Ministry of Telecommunications indicates that, based on theITU study to identify uses of fifth generation technologies, the survey and formulation of the 5G policy will be carried out. In addition, he points out that together with Arcotel they prepare the way for the adoption of new technology.

This newspaper requested a request for information from Arcotel, but until the closing of this publication it had no response.

Meanwhile, Cevallos points out that another concern is the cost of the radio spectrum to implement 5G. “It is a fundamental factor for the current network to be expanded and new technology to be implemented,” he says.

• Government obtains valuation of mobile operator bands and paves the way for the renegotiation of contracts

Claro and Telefónica Movistar also highlight this aspect. For example,Of course it mentions thatThe high costs for using the spectrum would prevent the use of the fifth generation of technologies.

“The use of 5G with all its potential and its massive deployment will depend on the regulatory changes necessary to expand spectrum allocation levels,” he indicates.

However, a few days ago the authorities presented the new regulation of Telecommunications Services Tariffs, which regulates the amounts that operators pay for the use of the radio spectrum.

This regulation would contemplate a reduction with respect to the current one, which dates back to 2003. And it would be socialized for about 45 days.

Hernán Ordóñez, regulatory and external affairs vice president of Telefónica Movistar, states that until now he is not aware of this new regulation.

“These rates are unbalanced in Ecuador. They are five times greater than the regional average,” he mentions.

Ordóñez highlights that, to achieve the 5G ecosystem, not only the review of spectrum rates is necessary but other factors: incorporating productive systems that demand this technology, users, applications, device manufacturers, operators, among others.

“We depend on regulation and that they grant us the spectrum. A policy is not ready, because the regulator needs to grant us the frequency,” he emphasizes.

WhileCésar Zhinin, Manager of Network Planning and Engineering at Telefónica Movistar, points out that this technology is quite a display. “They are small cells (cellular antenna) that form a large network and would be different types of radio. That is why a greater number of antennas is required in a populated area. What the end customer will see is like a Wi-Fi antenna,” he explains.(I)

Two years ago, Claro, Movistar and CNT carried out 5G demonstrations in Quito and Guayaquil, so that citizens could learn about it and in some cases live that experience. And they taught it, for example, through virtual reality video games or on panels that displayed the speed of a mobile phone.

The assessment report for the 700 megahertz (MHz) and 2.5 GHz band was recently delivered by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). And Minister Michelena was present at this event, who indicated that based on this assessment of the gangs, the international organization was asked to carry out an assessment of the3.5 gigahertz (GHz) band, equivalent to 5G technology.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Telecommunications, these will be inputs for the new Government so that it can define "the competitive process to renegotiate contracts with operators and the opening of the country to 5G technology."

• What is the 5G network and in which countries it can work

But there are still steps left for the new technology, says the executive director of the Association of Telecommunications Companies (Asetel), Jorge Cevallos

“So far there have been three or four operational tests. We are green in the face of an implementation process, because the policy for 5G is not defined, unlike other countries... The implementation of the technology, which is the first step, has not even been put out to tender; Progress has been made in clearing the bands that could be used, but as I said, there is no 5G spectrum policy,” he mentions.

The Ministry of Telecommunications indicates that, based on theITU study to identify uses of fifth generation technologies, the survey and formulation of the 5G policy will be carried out. In addition, he points out that together with Arcotel they prepare the way for the adoption of new technology.

This newspaper requested a request for information from Arcotel, but until the closing of this publication it had no response.

Meanwhile, Cevallos points out that another concern is the cost of the radio spectrum to implement 5G. “It is a fundamental factor for the current network to be expanded and new technology to be implemented,” he says.

Claro and Telefónica Movistar also highlight this aspect. For example,Of course it mentions thatThe high costs for using the spectrum would prevent the use of the fifth generation of technologies.

“The use of 5G with all its potential and its massive deployment will depend on the regulatory changes necessary to expand spectrum allocation levels,” he indicates.

However, a few days ago the authorities presented the new regulation of Telecommunications Services Tariffs, which regulates the amounts that operators pay for the use of the radio spectrum.

This regulation would contemplate a reduction with respect to the current one, which dates back to 2003. And it would be socialized for about 45 days.

Hernán Ordóñez, regulatory and external affairs vice president of Telefónica Movistar, states that until now he is not aware of this new regulation.

“These rates are unbalanced in Ecuador. They are five times greater than the regional average,” he mentions.

Ordóñez highlights that, to achieve the 5G ecosystem, not only the review of spectrum rates is necessary but other factors: incorporating productive systems that demand this technology, users, applications, device manufacturers, operators, among others.

“We depend on regulation and that they grant us the spectrum. A policy is not ready, because the regulator needs to grant us the frequency,” he emphasizes.

While César Zhinin, Manager of Network Planning and Engineering at Telefónica Movistar, points out that this technology is quite a display. “They are small cells (cellular antenna) that form a large network and would be different types of radio. That is why a greater number of antennas is required in a populated area. What the end customer will see is like a Wi-Fi antenna.”