Brazil / Brasil: Brazilian regulator Anatel offer incentives to speed up shutdown of legacy networks

Brazilian telecoms regulator Anatel (Agencia Nacional de Telecomunicacoes) has revealed plans to hasten the shutdown of its 2G and 3G networks. The company plans to issue subsidies to customers from equipment vendors to end users to speed up the transition from old 2G and 3G networks into the 4G and 5G standards. 

"Technological evolution is a constant phenomenon that drives progress in all areas of society. With regards to [mobile] systems, the transition from 2G and 3G technologies to more advanced technological standards, such as 4G and 5G is a necessary step to meet the demands of new applications and business models, in favor of the country's digital transformation and in a way that directly benefits consumers, the various economic sectors and industry," Anatel said in a press release. 

"Restricted or 2G/3G-only supported devices use spectrum less efficiently and, globally, their isolated ecosystems are becoming obsolete to meet the demands of current applications."

The regulator noted that there are over 21 million active 2G and 3G subscriptions across Brazil as of August 2023, and it intends to hasten the transition to meet up with other mobile operators across the world who have either closed or are in the process of closing these legacy networks.