Ericsson: 3G, WiMax auctions ought to take place this year
The Brazilian unit of Swedish telecoms equipment provider Ericsson is optimistic that Brazilian telecoms regulator Anatel will launch auctions for 3G and WiMax licenses this year, Ericsson's director of technology and products Paulo Bernardocki told BNamericas.
Telecoms infrastructure suppliers have faced drying up revenues as most mobile operators have brought their networks up to date. For that reason, the industry is eagerly awaiting auctions for both 3G and WiMax for fresh revenue opportunities, Bernardocki said.
In the meantime, Ericsson is focusing on multimedia services and broadband internet, which it expects to account for 20-25% of its overall revenues in 2008 from 15-20% today.
"Ericsson has other products and infrastructure exports, but if no decision on 3G or WiMax is made this year, this will have a major impact on Ericsson's operations in Brazil," Bernardocki said.
Brazil's communications minister Hélio Costa was quoted by local newspapers this week as saying he expected Anatel to relaunch "as soon as possible" an auction for 3.5GHz and 10GHz spectrum licenses to provide WiMax services.
Federal accounts court TCU ordered the watchdog to suspend its plans to auction WiMax licenses last September saying it had detected irregularities in the bidding rules, such as the use of an outdated exchange rate.
Anatel is expected to decide in May which spectrum band is to be used for 3G services and has said it hopes to auction licenses by the end of the year.
Ericsson posted net revenues of 2.0bn reais (US$977mn) in 2006 from 2.4bn reais in 2005 in Brazil.
Telecoms infrastructure suppliers have faced drying up revenues as most mobile operators have brought their networks up to date. For that reason, the industry is eagerly awaiting auctions for both 3G and WiMax for fresh revenue opportunities, Bernardocki said.
In the meantime, Ericsson is focusing on multimedia services and broadband internet, which it expects to account for 20-25% of its overall revenues in 2008 from 15-20% today.
"Ericsson has other products and infrastructure exports, but if no decision on 3G or WiMax is made this year, this will have a major impact on Ericsson's operations in Brazil," Bernardocki said.
Brazil's communications minister Hélio Costa was quoted by local newspapers this week as saying he expected Anatel to relaunch "as soon as possible" an auction for 3.5GHz and 10GHz spectrum licenses to provide WiMax services.
Federal accounts court TCU ordered the watchdog to suspend its plans to auction WiMax licenses last September saying it had detected irregularities in the bidding rules, such as the use of an outdated exchange rate.
Anatel is expected to decide in May which spectrum band is to be used for 3G services and has said it hopes to auction licenses by the end of the year.
Ericsson posted net revenues of 2.0bn reais (US$977mn) in 2006 from 2.4bn reais in 2005 in Brazil.
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