Challenges of the first 5G radio spectrum assignmentin Mexico

Abstract

Mobile communications are one of the services that occupy more and more space in the radio spectrum, as they are key to economic development. The objective of this document is to illustrate the challenges faced by the Mexican regulator in light of the structure of our country's market and technological changes in the assignment of spectrum for 5G services. To this end, an evolution of the Mexican market analysis and a radio spectrum management evolution recap was made. Subsequently, the regulatory challenges of 5G spectrum management in Mexico were analyzed in the light of a comparative analysis of the international experience in solving this problem in the United States and Germany, pioneering countries in the bidding of radio spectrum in bands of the second digital dividend and 3.5 GHz. It is concluded that the regulatory restriction referring to unique concessions is an impediment to assign spectrum under dynamic access technologies and spectrum sharing schemes. Regarding the 600 MHz band it was found that it is an opportunity to solve the two challenges of the telecommunications market in Mexico the low adoption of broadband and little competition. In order to take advantage of the technical advantages of the 3.5 GHz band, the Mexican regulator will have to change the current regulatory framework that restricts innovation