Anatel sets date for tender reviews

Brazil’s telecoms regulator Agencia Nacional de Telecomunicacoes (Anatel) says it will begin the process of reviewing proposals for the country’s June 5 tender of 2.5GHz and 450MHz mobile spectrum, BNAmericas reported.

Anatel added it will confirm the date when spectrum licenses will be awarded on that same date.

The announcement comes about a week after Anatel President Joao Rezende said the tenders would be awarded on June 12. That date is looking less likely, however.

The bidding rules for the 4G auction will be published today, and Anatel will begin studying prospective bidders’ identification and tax compliance documentation, as well as considering price proposals and other related information on June 5.

No details were given on how long the review process may take.

Under the tender outline, carriers which secure 4G spectrum will be required to launch services in the six Brazilian cities hosting soccer’s Confederations Cup by April 2013, and in the 12 host cities for the 2014 Football World Cup, by the end of 2013.

The country’s five leading cellcos – Telefonica Brazil (Vivo), TIM Participacoes (TIM Brasil), Telecom Americas (Claro), Telemar Norte Leste (Oi) and NII Holdings’ Nextel Brasil – are all expected to participate in the auction, while Sky Brasil (part of the DirecTV group) may also take part.

Anatel intends to sell off frequencies in the 2.5GHz band and the 450MHz band, with the latter being deployed to boost rural coverage. Anatel commissioner Marcelo Bechara says that the watchdog expects that the bandwidth on offer will be sufficient to allow three or four carriers to provide nationwide coverage.