President Luis Abinader and the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (Indotel) president Nelson Arroyo announced the start of procedures to auction the country’s 5G frequencies. For the announcement, President Abinader was accompanied by Vice President Raquel Peña and Pavel Isa Contreras, Deputy Minister for Planning at the Ministry of Economy and Planning.
Abinader said the DR seeks to become the second country in the region to allocate the 5G spectrum. The deployment of 5G technology is promoted as a way to advance industry in general and the hi-tech industry and to open up new horizons in the field of Internet of Things (IoT), bringing new opportunities to the population.
The International Telecommunications Union and the Inter-American Development Bank are assisting the Dominican government in the auction.
At the event, held in the Green Room of the Presidential Palace, Indotel president Nelson Arroyo highlighted the 5G network’s implementation as one of this administration’s tangible achievements. He said it places the country a step ahead in opportunities and access to technology.
President Abinader recalled that in October 2020, the government had committed to promote the development of telecommunications.
“For this reason, and through a decree, we declared of high national interest the essential right of universal access to the latest generation broadband internet and the productive use of information and communication technologies,” he emphasized.
“That is why this government today reaffirms its commitment to change the reality of our population. The fifth generation of mobile networks will have an impact on all sectors of the population and will make our nation more competitive, more dynamic and better connected,” said President Abinader.
The Indotel board announced that the winning bidders will comply with an Infrastructure Deployment Plan. The new systems and networks to be installed will achieve a minimum coverage in the national territory at the end of five years.
The 5G network is expected to have a considerable impact on the making of a more efficient and competitive state and the eliminating of the digital divide, said the President. He also highlighted its impact on telemedicine services, especially in these pandemic times.
During the ceremony, President Abinader also announced that by 2022 the Digital Terrestrial Television signal should be in operation. He said the government is investing US$30 million so that low-income Dominicans can have access to digital television signals free of charge. For this project, the Indotel recaptured the 700 MHz band used by UHF channels.
Julissa Cruz, executive director of Indotel, gave the details on the process that began on 9 February 2021. The deadline for registration, consultations, bidding and awarding of the spectrum frequencies is May 2021. In September of this year, the signing of the contract will take place.
Cruz also pointed out that 5G spectrum bidders can compete for multiple amounts of spectrum in each band. The bids with the highest price per MHz per year of each bidder will be compared.
In the Dominican Republic 91.6% of the households have at least one mobile telephone, but only 31.6% has Internet service, according to the 2018 Enhogar survey. There are 8.2 million broadband Internet accounts of which 7 million are mobile telephones. The government expects 5G to eliminate the digital divide in five years time.
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Indotel
9 February 2021