Telecom Argentina said that 16% of its customers have phones suitable to take advantage of 5G SA technology
Telecom Argentina expects to end this year with a total of 260 5G sites across the country, according to local press reports.
The Argentine operator had ended last year with 60 5G sites in some of the country’s main urban areas.
The network expansion is part of the telco’s $500 million investment plan for all operator sectors. The telco said that 16% of its customers have phones suitable to take advantage of 5G SA technology.
The city of Buenos Aires, some areas of the province of Buenos Aires, and the cities of Rosario and Córdoba are the areas with the highest concentration of 5G sites, although provincial capitals also have 5G sites, according to the operator.
Telecom Argentina also confirmed it plans to test 5G Fixed Wireless Access technology in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area (AMBA).
After an investment of more than $350 million, the carrier had acquired a 100 megahertz block in the 3.5 GHz spectrum band, which allowed Telecom Argentina to expand the 5G network that began to build in 2021.
Telecom Argentina operates in the mobile telephony segment under the Personal brand.
In October 2023, Argentine operators Claro, Movistar and Personal secured spectrum for the provision of 5G services in a tender carried out by the government.
The government obtained $875 million for the frequencies, less than the initial expectation of $1.05 billion.
Claro is owned by Mexican telecommunications group America Movil. Movistar is owned by Spanish telco Telefonica.
The National Communications Entity (Enacom) had said the first block of 100 megahertz in the 3.3-3.4 GHz band it was acquired by Claro for $350 million, while Personal committed to pay $350 million for a block of 100 megahertz in the 3.4-3.5 GHz band. Meanwhile, Movistar secured a block of 50 megahertz in the 3.55-3.6 GHz band for $175 million. The regulator said that another block of 50 megahertz in the 3.5 GHz band remained vacant.
Local press reports suggested that the 50 megahertz that remained vacant could be part of a future tender that includes other bands that are considered suitable for 5G technology.
5G subscribers in Argentina are expected to reach 34.7 million by 2030, up compared to 5.7 million in 2025, according to a report by telecom association GSMA.
The GSMA report showed that 5G penetration in Argentina is expected to reach 9% by 2025 while it would expand to 48% by 2030.
GSMA also noted that 5G networks will cover 84% of Argentina’s population by 2030, up from 38% in 2025.
Source: https://www.rcrwireless.com/20240528/5g/telecom-argentina-aims-reach-260-5g-sites-end-2024