VIETTEL PERU WILL INVEST AROUND US$ 600 MILLION TO CONNECT RURAL AREAS WITH 4G SERVICES
Lima - June 10, 2023.- The Private Investment Promotion Agency (PROINVERSIÓN) awarded the Viettel Perú S.A.C. company the AWS-3 and 2.3 GHz Radio Spectrum Band projects by proposing the largest coverage with 4G mobile services (telephony and mobile internet) in rural locations in the country.
The tender for the AWS-3 Radio Spectrum Bands project was divided into two blocks: Block A of 2x15 MHz and Block B of 2x15 MHz. Both were awarded to Viettel Peru S.A.C. by proposing coverage with 4G mobile services in 2,640 locations; América Móvil S.A.C. was in second place.
Likewise, the 2.3 GHz Band was awarded to the company Viettel Perú S.A.C. by proposing the coverage of 1,185 locations; Entel Peru S.A. was in second place.
In this way, 3,825 localities will have 4G mobile services (telephony and mobile internet) improving their connectivity and quality of life. Of those localities, 3,282 will have 4G mobile services in the first year of the concession contract and 543 in the second year.
As a result of the bids of the winning bidder, the total amount of investment that Viettel Peru will make in the implementation of 4G mobile services in the proposed locations would amount to US$ 600 million, an amount far higher than the initial estimate of US$ 268 million.
"This award is a significant advance to contribute to the improvement of the connectivity of our compatriots, mainly in rural areas of the country. It represents an important step in the recovery of the pace of project awards in the portfolio, with transparent and predictable processes for all the agents involved," said the executive director of PROINVERSIÓN, José Salardi.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Communications of the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC), Patricia Carreño, thanked the commitment of the operators to continue investing in our country, and the articulated and technical work of PROINVERSIÓN and the MTC to successfully carry out this public tender. "From the MTC we renew our commitment to continue working articulately to connect more Peruvians; and continue to reduce the digital gap," said the Deputy Minister of Communications.
BENEFITS
The benefits of the AWS-3 and 2.3 GHz Radio Spectrum Band projects lie in two fundamental aspects. First, it lies in enabling a greater number of rural localities nationwide that today do not have mobile services or only have 2G or 3G technology services, to access 4G mobile services; This improves the quality of their communications. Secondly, the provision of these bands will allow successful mobile operators to make more efficient use of the spectrum available to them, improving the quality of communications at national level.
In addition, the execution of the investment commitments will encourage investment in telecommunications infrastructure in remote areas where there is no 4G mobile coverage, thus contributing to reducing the telecommunications gap and expanding the footprint of mobile operators in rural areas of the country.
The term of the concession of both AWS-3 and 2.3 GHz bands will be 20 years.
Source: Press Release - PROINVERSIÓN