Justina Alexandra Sava
Research expert covering the IT security & services market
Get in touch with us now5G deployment: ready, set, go
In 2021, AT&T was the first telecommunication company to announce its 5G deployment in Mexico. In July 2022, AT&T announced that they expected to end the year with a 5G coverage in 25 Mexican cities. So far, 5G connections were reported to be the strongest in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. Nevertheless, AT&T clients from Morelia, Saltillo, Obregón, Hermosillo, and Culicán, can rely on 5G connections as of summer 2022.In addition to the delays caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the deployment of 5G in Mexico has also encountered major infrastructure and economic challenges. Given the low levels of investment in telecommunications in recent years, the development of the necessary infrastructure mostly depends on the proactivity of operators and key industry players. By 2021, Mexico had allocated 503 MHz spectrum for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT). Moreover, achieving better upload and download speeds depends on the bandwidth available to transmit the mobile signal. Consequently, allocating additional frequency bands across the spectrum is necessary to meet the desired speed, coverage, and latency offered by 5G.
Public perception of 5G technology in Mexico
One of the biggest advantages provided by the adoption of 5G technology in Latin America was that it would improve people’s quality of life. For Mexican companies, however, 5G development meant flexibility in the lines of production, new business models, and reduced maintenance downtime. Overall, 5G antennas have gained high acceptance in Mexico. More than two-thirds of respondents approved – to a greater or lesser extent – of this technology rollout. At least four out of ten smartphone users in the country even expressed their willingness to switch to the next-generation network as soon as it became available in their region. Although the public perception is mostly positive, concerns over the safety of 5G antennas continue to create reluctance among potential consumers. When asked about the health risks associated with this technology, one quarter of those surveyed believed it could threaten human health.
