Brazilian telecom regulator Anatel this week doled out 3G licenses for the 2.1 GHz band that operators won in its December 2007 auction, and the likes of TIM Participacoes S.A. (TIM Brasil) and América Móvil S.A. de C.V. subsidiary Claro immediately kicked off services.
Carriers have already begun launching 3G services in the 850 MHz band, but the licenses for the 2.1 GHz band cover major cities such as Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and the capital Brasilia.
Anatel had initially ruled against using the 850 MHz band for 3G, making carriers wait for the auction of UMTS licenses for 1.9 GHz–2.1 GHz frequencies, but on October 31 last year it said it would allow carriers to use any frequency.
