11th Asia Pacific Spectrum Management Conference

With WRC-27 now just over a year away and the ITU’s preparatory cycle well advanced, Latin America faces a critical period in shaping and consolidating its regional position. Through CITEL, countries across the region have been working to define common priorities on a range of issues that will be negotiated at WRC-27. These issues will have a significant bearing on the future of spectrum management – from IMT expansion and satellite growth to the future of key bands such as the upper 6 GHz and sub-1 GHz frequencies. This session will examine where Latin America stands in the preparatory process, assess the extent of regional alignment on priority issues, and explore the steps that must be taken in the months ahead to ensure a unified and effective regional voice at WRC-27.

• Which WRC-27 agenda items are of highest strategic importance for Latin American administrations, and how aligned is the region on these priorities?
• How can the region balance competing demands between IMT expansion, satellite growth, Wi-Fi needs, and other key spectrum users? How important will WRC-27 be in setting the future path?
• What trends and policy objectives are driving national spectrum priorities across the region, and how are these being translated into emerging regional positions?
• Where is consensus forming within CITEL, and where do significant divergences remain? What strategies are being employed to build a coordinated Latin American position ahead of WRC-27?
• How can Latin America ensure its voice is heard effectively at the global level during WRC-27 negotiations, particularly on issues of strategic regional importance?
• How can Latin American administrations approach potential discussions on NGSO equivalent power-flux-density (EPFD) limits at WRC-27 in a way that supports expanded satellite connectivity across the region while ensuring continued protection for GSO services?
• What are the key milestones and coordination activities in the months ahead, and what does a successful and unified regional outcome at WRC-27 look like?

Latin America’s 5G journey is advancing, but progress across the region remains uneven. While major markets such as Brazil, Mexico, Chile and Colombia are moving towards nationwide coverage and exploring standalone networks, many countries are still in the early stages of planning or face significant challenges around investment, infrastructure and device affordability. This session will take stock of the current state of 5G deployment across the region and examine how Latin America can accelerate rollout to ensure that the benefits of next-generation connectivity reach all populations and markets.

• What progress is being seen across the region in 5G rollout, and what are the most significant remaining barriers – financial, regulatory, infrastructural and in terms of device ecosystem readiness?
• How are operators balancing commercial priorities with national connectivity goals, particularly when addressing investment challenges, rural coverage obligations, and differing market maturity levels across the region?
• What progress is being seen in more advanced markets moving towards 5G standalone deployment, and what lessons can be drawn for the rest of the region?
• How are spectrum availability and licensing frameworks either enabling or constraining 5G expansion, and what policy interventions would have the greatest impact?
• Which spectrum bands are likely to be most important for continued 5G expansion, and how can regulators ensure timely access for operators?
• What role can regional coordination play in accelerating deployment, reducing costs and supporting roaming and cross-border service consistency?

Demand for spectrum continues to accelerate. With 5G rollout continuing, 6G on the horizon, satellite and NTN connectivity expanding significantly and demand for key services such as Wi-Fi, IoT, programme making & special events (PMSE), private networks and vertical applications increasing rapidly, regulators face increasingly complex decisions around prioritisation, coexistence and efficient use of scarce spectrum resources. At this conference last year, a session was held to look at the growing spectrum crunch and plans that were emerging across the region to tackle this. Now, 12 months on, this session will look to how Latin America can move from planning to start moving forward with more concrete national and regional strategies. It will examine how regulators and industry are navigating trade-offs between competing demands, implementing more flexible and dynamic approaches to licensing and sharing, and adapting to new players and technologies entering the ecosystem. The discussion will also consider the growing role of non-terrestrial networks, AI-driven spectrum management, and regional coordination in delivering more efficient, resilient and future-proof spectrum frameworks.

• How are spectrum priorities in the region continuing to evolve, and what are now the most pressing demands facing Latin America?
• How can regulators move from long-term planning to practical implementation of spectrum strategies that balance competing needs?
• What impact are emerging technologies such as NTN/D2D, AI-driven network management and early 6G developments having on spectrum policy and allocation decisions?
• How are relationships between different connectivity providers (IMT, satellite, Wi-Fi, private networks) evolving, and what does this mean for spectrum frameworks?
• What progress is being made on spectrum sharing and dynamic access models, and what barriers still need to be addressed?
• How are wireless microphone users, including broadcasters, live events and cultural industries, navigating increasing pressure on the spectrum bands they depend on, and what regulatory approaches can best protect reliable access while accommodating broader ecosystem demands?
• How can licensing approaches be adapted to provide greater flexibility while maintaining investment certainty?
• What role can data, forecasting tools and AI play in improving spectrum planning and decision-making?
• How can regional harmonisation and cross-border coordination be strengthened to improve efficiency and scale across Latin America? Given that countries are at vastly different stages of 5G readiness and in their connectivity journey more broadly, how can it be ensured that harmonisation serves connectivity equity as well as commercial efficiency?
• How can spectrum policy continue to support inclusive connectivity while also enabling innovation and competition across the region?

Three years on from WRC-23, Latin America’s approach to the upper 6 GHz band (6.425–7.125 GHz) remains fragmented, with competing visions still being discussed across the region relating to its future use for licensed mobile, unlicensed Wi-Fi, or hybrid sharing models. Some countries have moved towards firm decisions whilst others remain in consultation phases, leaving uncertainty for mobile operators, Wi-Fi stakeholders, satellite users and incumbent services. This session will look to provide and update on the current state of play in the band across Latin America and consider whether a coherent regional approach remains achievable. It will explore the forces driving divergence, the implications for both mobile and Wi-Fi ecosystems, and whether coexistence models such as band-splitting, AFC-managed sharing or geographic segmentation could offer a workable path forward.

• What is the current status of the upper 6 GHz band across Latin America, and how have national positions evolved since WRC-23? Which countries have committed to an approach, and what is driving divergence across the region?
• What are the implications for the Wi-Fi ecosystem if more of the band is identified for IMT, and what would it mean for operators if it is not? How can the legitimate needs of both communities be accommodated without creating long-term interference or investment uncertainty?
• Are there practical coexistence models – such as band-splitting, AFC-managed sharing, or geographic segmentation – that could offer a workable middle ground in the Latin American context?
• How significant is the influence of other regions on Latin American decision-making in this band? With the US committed to unlicensed use of the upper 6 GHz, in stark contrast to approaches being taken in Europe and parts of Asia, how should Latin America navigate these competing global models? What weight should it assign to its proximity and device ecosystem interdependence with the US?
• To what extent does regional harmonisation remain achievable across this band, or has fragmentation become inevitable? What would a fragmented approach mean for cross-border interference management and device ecosystems across the region?

Fair and competitive approaches to spectrum licensing and pricing remain central to the success of connectivity strategies across Latin America. Governments continue to rely on spectrum awards as a source of public revenue, but there is growing recognition that high spectrum prices can constrain investment, delay deployment and limit long-term economic benefits. As countries across the region approach a new wave of spectrum renewals and awards covering key bands for 5G and more, the debate around pricing methodology, licence duration and the appropriate balance between fiscal objectives and connectivity goals has never been more relevant.

This session will explore how licensing frameworks and pricing models are evolving across the region and whether a shift is needed towards approaches that prioritise long-term investment, coverage and innovation over short-term fiscal returns. It will examine the full range of options available to regulators as they seek to design licensing frameworks that drive both investment and innovation and look at the merits of some of the alternative models that are being proposed – spectrum sharing, administrative pricing, performance-based obligations and more.

• How does spectrum pricing and auction models, currently used across Latin America, compare with approaches seen in other regions, and what does the evidence tell us about the relationship between spectrum costs and network investment?
• What recent awards have been seen in the region and what models and approaches have been seen?
• Is the traditional auction-based licensing model still the most appropriate tool for all spectrum types and use cases, or should alternative approaches, such as administrative pricing, usage fees or set-asides, be considered more seriously?
• How should licence duration and renewal conditions be designed to provide investment certainty while maintaining competitive pressure and efficient spectrum use?
• What role should coverage obligations, rollout conditions and quality-of-service requirements play in spectrum award processes, and how can these be structured to genuinely drive connectivity outcomes?
• How should spectrum for IoT, private networks and vertical industries be priced and licensed differently from traditional mobile spectrum, and what risk is there that high pricing creates barriers to innovation?
• What does a modern, fit-for-purpose spectrum licensing and valuation framework look like for Latin America in 2026 and beyond?

kindly hosted by SUTEL, Costa Rica

Global momentum towards 6G is building rapidly, with early discussions already underway across the world that are beginning to shape future spectrum policy, technology priorities and standards development. For Latin America, this raises important questions: how should the region position itself on long-term spectrum choices and investment priorities, and what steps must it take to participate meaningfully in shaping the next generation of connectivity? At the same time, there is the need to ensure that preparations for 6G do not divert focus from the current challenges of completing 5G deployment and extending digital inclusion across the region. This session examines how Latin America can prepare for 6G effectively, influence the global standards process, and make spectrum decisions today that will serve the region’s long-term connectivity ambitions. Ahead of discussions at WRC-27, it will look at the potential of the 7.125–8.4 GHz band and other candidate bands under discussion for potential new IMT identification for 6G, and also consider how the region can ensure its voice is heard in the standards bodies and technical forums where the foundations of 6G are being laid.

• How can Latin American countries begin preparing for 6G while still focused on delivering 5G effectively, and how can early 6G planning be integrated into current policy frameworks without creating distraction or investment uncertainty?
• What progress is being seen in more advanced markets moving towards 5G standalone, and how does this connect to the longer-term path towards 6G?
• Given the rapid development that is being seen with the rollout of other future connectivity technologies (unlicenced technologies, satellite networks and more), how can the spectrum needs of these key use-cases be balanced with those of 6G to deliver the 
• How should Latin American administrations position themselves on Agenda Item 1.7 at WRC-27, and what outcome on the 7.125–8.4 GHz range would best serve the region’s long-term 6G ambitions?
• Outside the WRC process, are there other bands that are being considered for early 6G deployment across Latin America and globally?
• How can the region ensure that spectrum decisions being taken today on 5G bands and adjacent ranges do not constrain future technology evolution towards 6G?
• What steps can Latin America take now to ensure it plays a meaningful role in shaping the 6G standard, and what regional coordination mechanisms would best support this objective?
• How does the influence of other regions, particularly the contrasting approaches of the US, Europe and Asia on both mid-band and upper-band spectrum, shape Latin America’s strategic options on the path to 6G

Direct-to-Device (D2D) connectivity is advancing rapidly across the globe, with a growing number of operators and satellite providers launching or announcing services that bring connectivity directly to standard consumer handsets without terrestrial infrastructure. For Latin American countries, in which significant rural and remote populations often remain unconnected, the potential of D2D to extend meaningful coverage to areas where traditional mobile deployment is economically or geographically unviable is substantial. However, the regulatory and licensing frameworks needed to support D2D services across the region remain largely undeveloped, with key questions around spectrum use, licensing models and coexistence with terrestrial networks yet to be fully resolved. This session will examine the current state of D2D in Latin America and examine how countries in the region can develop effective frameworks for D2D services, balancing innovation with the protection of incumbent users and ensuring efficient spectrum use.

• What is the current status of D2D service development and deployment across Latin America and globally? Which markets are moving most quickly towards enabling commercial services?
• Which spectrum bands are most suitable for D2D services, and how should they be assigned? What licensing models can best support D2D deployment? 
• How can regulators balance the introduction of D2D services with the need to protect incumbent satellite and terrestrial mobile operations? What coexistence tools and technical conditions are being considered?
• What role should national mobile operators play in the D2D ecosystem, and how can regulatory frameworks avoid creating unnecessary barriers to entry while also protecting existing investment and services?
• To what extent could regional coordination in Latin America, including harmonisation of spectrum, standards and service frameworks, accelerate commercial roll-out and reduce device and infrastructure costs?
• What new use cases are going to be the drivers for D2D across the region? How significant is the potential of D2D to address connectivity gaps in rural and remote areas, and how can regulatory frameworks be designed to maximise this potential?

Rapid growth in NGSO deployments continues, and the conversation in Latin America is shifting from whether coexistence between these new services, existing GSO’s and other incumbent services is possible and how it can be effectively implemented and managed at scale. However, significant challenges remain as satellite systems become more complex and multi-orbit architectures develop. As positions begin to emerge around licensing approaches, coordination mechanisms, and the respective roles of national administrations and international frameworks, and with regional positions for WRC-27 soon needing to be finalised, the next 18 months will be critical in determining the future development of this rapidly evolving sector. This session will examine how spectrum and licensing frameworks are evolving in practice, assess the effectiveness of current coordination mechanisms, and explore what changes may be needed to balance protection and innovation and to support scalable, sustainable coexistence in the years ahead. 

• How are licensing and authorisation frameworks in Latin America evolving in response to the rapid scaling of NGSO constellations and the emergence of multi-orbit systems?
• Moving beyond theory, how effective are current coordination and interference management mechanisms in practice, and what are the key gaps that still need to be addressed?
• What practical challenges are administrations facing in monitoring enforcement and ensuring compliance in increasingly dynamic and congested spectrum environments?
• How can regulators strike the right balance between enabling innovation and new market entrants while ensuring fair competition and protecting incumbent services?
• Given the critical decisions facing the sector over the next 18 months, how can we ensure the resulting regulatory frameworks are future-proof? Specifically, what measures are needed to establish flexible regulations that evolve with technology and market dynamics, thereby avoiding the necessity for continuous, major reforms?
• How should Latin American administrations position themselves for WRC-27, and which outcomes would best support the development of effective satellite spectrum policy and coexistence frameworks in the region?

As Latin America’s digital economy diversifies, the pressure on spectrum regulators to move beyond one-size-fits-all licensing has never been greater. Industrial automation, smart city infrastructure, precision agriculture, and mission-critical public services each place fundamentally different demands on wireless connectivity that traditional connectivity frameworks were never designed to meet. This session will examine how spectrum policy is already evolving to meet these new requirements and the different options being considered to best support future connectivity needs across emerging use cases. It will look at how regulators and connectivity providers can move beyond traditional models to embrace flexible frameworks that empower vertical industries and critical sectors to innovate on their own terms, driving regional productivity and public safety. 

• How should spectrum frameworks evolve to support a wider range of users, use cases and technologies beyond traditional mobile broadband?
• Should vertical industries be granted direct access to spectrum, or is the operator-led model still the most efficient way to deliver connectivity?
• How can Latin American countries ensure that an industrial IoT device can function across borders without requiring every nation to adopt the exact same frequency bands?
• What mix of licensing approaches (exclusive, shared, and localised) will best support emerging use cases without creating fragmentation?
• Do critical services such as utilities and public safety require dedicated spectrum, or can commercial networks evolve to meet ultra-reliable requirements?
• Can dynamic spectrum sharing and tools like automated frequency coordination (AFC) be effectively implemented in Latin America, and what are the key barriers?
• Should spectrum for IoT and vertical use cases be priced differently from traditional mobile spectrum to better support innovation and economic growth?
• How can regulators design frameworks that support both dense urban deployments (e.g. smart cities) and wide-area rural use cases (e.g. agriculture)?

Mid-band spectrum, broadly spanning 1 to 6 GHz, has become the foundational layer for 5G across Latin America, offering the coverage-capacity balance that operators need to build commercially viable networks at scale. The 3.5 GHz band has emerged as the anchor frequency for 5G deployments across much of the region, but other bands, including 1.4 GHz, 1.7 GHz, 2.3 GHz, 2.5/2.6 GHz and 3.3 GHz, are playing increasingly important roles in national strategies. As demand for mid-band spectrum continues to grow, driven by 5G expansion, private network requirements and preparations for future connectivity requirements, regulators face growing pressure to ensure that these critical frequencies are allocated efficiently, used to their full potential, and managed in a way that supports both commercial connectivity goals and broader public interest objectives. This session will examine recent developments across the key mid-band frequencies and explore how the region can maximise the value of these resources.

• Is Latin America achieving the right balance across the mid-band range to support IMT growth while also protecting essential satellite services and enabling unlicensed innovation?
• With broad regional alignment on the use of the 3.5 GHz band, where are countries in terms of implementation and what progress is being made? What challenges are still holding up the award of this key spectrum and how can they be overcome?
• How has the allocation of other key mid-band frequencies between 1GHz and 6GHz progressed across Latin America, and what lessons can be drawn from recent award outcomes and spectrum pricing trends?
• With the US now exploring the potential reallocation of spectrum in the 3.8–4.2 GHz band for mobile use, to what extent could this influence mid-band strategy in Latin America? Should countries in the region reassess their own approach to C-band, and how best could they look to balance the needs of satellite incumbents with growing demand for IMT?
• How much mid-band spectrum has been allocated and is actively being used? What more can be done to improve utilisation and efficiency in these key frequencies?
• As pressure increases to identify additional mid-band spectrum for 5G, which bands have the strongest regional potential, and what technical or regulatory barriers must be addressed?
• How can regulators across Latin America better coordinate band plans, licensing frameworks and technical conditions to reduce deployment costs, foster economies of scale, and enable interoperable mid-band ecosystems across the region?