Claro and Entel’s Peruvian units have been cleared to offer 5G new radio (NR) fixed-wireless internet services via their existing 3.5GHz spectrum holdings.
Peru’s Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) approved the move while announcing that the planning phase for an upcoming auction of 3.5GHz and 26GHz spectrum is now complete. As a result of this, the ministry will reveal the details and timeline of the tender process later this month.
Explaining the authorisation, Telecom Minister Eduardo Gonzalez said: “It is important to promote the initial deployment of 5G technology, even more so as in the last year internet data traffic grew more than 60% on the fixed network. Users demand more speed at lower prices, and the way to achieve this will be with 5G. This first stage will allow us to test the technology.”
Peru is strongly encouraging the deployment and uptake of 5G, with TeleGeography reporting that the ministry considers the technology instrumental to the country’s economic recovery.