Government to Auction Licenses to Develop 4G Mobile Networks

Economy Minister Axel Kicillof announced today that the government is planning to auction the first licenses to develop 4G mobile wireless technology in Argentina.

Kicillof said that the auction would be for two bands to offer 4G mobile services, and that it would be open to companies from outside Argentina. The auction winners will develop 4G networks to cover the entire country, easing pressure on networks cause by the increased use of smartphones and tablets.

Earlier this year, at the Mobile World Congress, it was reported that Argentina was lagging behind the rest of Latin American in terms of adopting high-speed mobile wireless technology, something Kicillof attributed to private sector hold ups.

“In Argentina there is a delay as operators have not completed the migration to 3G. The penetration of mobile broadband has not been sufficient. There needs to be an advance in 3G to open the doors to 4G, which is what we are doing today,” said Kicillof, urging phone operating companies to increase investment in the sector.

The economy minister added that the number of active mobile phones in Argentina has increased ten-fold since 2003.

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