The Government sets the road map for the deployment of 5G networks

At the beginning of 2018, the first frequency bands will be auctioned, which are 3.6 GHz and 1.5 GHz

      The Ministry of Energy, Tourism and Digital Agenda today set the roadmap for the deployment in Spain of the 5G, with a series of measures such as the tender of the first frequency bands for this mobile technology and aids to promote the start-up of pilot projects.

5G technology is considered the cornerstone of digital transformation and its implementation will facilitate the provision of services that require high bandwidth in mobility and will give a boost to the applications of the Internet of Things (IoT), such as the connected car, the intelligent transport or the digitalisation of the rural environment.

    The measures are included in the National Plan 5G, which the Ministry has published today and with which Spain joins Germany and the United Kingdom as the third country of the European Union in having a plan of this type.

At the beginning of 2018, the first frequency bands identified for 5G will be auctioned, which are those of 3.6 GHz and 1.5 GHz, with the aim of allowing operators to start carrying out the first projects innovative 5G.

The other two bands identified for 5G, the 700 Mhz (the second digital dividend) and the 26 GHz, have not yet been scheduled for bidding, although Ministry sources have indicated today that operators do not consider them priority and They have stressed that the 5G can start "even commercially" without them.

Other measures included in the Plan, which is based on the contributions and results of the public consultation held last July, is the call for aid to carry out pilot projects that promote the development and deployment of 5G technology.

It is estimated that the introduction of 5G in the sectors of the automotive, health, transport and public services in Spain will have an economic impact of up to 14,600 million euros before 2025, according to the sources. EFE