Bolivia could see 5G launches in 2020

Bolivia's state-run telco Entel could make its first launches of 5G technology in 2020, once a couple of key advances are achieved. 

After it is decided which frequencies to use and the associated regulations are enacted, the telco will go ahead with implementing 5G services, telecommunications deputy minister Iván Zambrana was reported as saying by local press.

Zambrana was speaking at the Expocruz trade fair in the city of Santa Cruz this week, where Entel carried out what it called the first 5G demo in the country, The trial was carried out in conjunction with Chinese vendor Huawei and achieved downlink transmission speeds of 1Gbps.

The official said that the ministry would wait until after the International Telecommunications Union's (ITU) World Radio Conference next month, where decisions will be made on which frequencies should be allocated for 5G.

“After that, we will start working on regulations that will pave the way for the first public 5G implementations next year,” he said.

Uruguay claims to have been the first country in Latin America to launch a 5G network, with a limited commercial offering in the city of Maldonado, close to the beach resort of Punta del Este, in April this year.

5G demos have been carried out in all of Latin America’s major economies.