Less than 8% of Brazilian cities have 5G-adapted antenna laws
Despite its presence in over 3,000 municipalities and benefiting 140 million Brazilians, 5G technology in Brazil faces a significant hurdle in its expansion. Outdated legislation in local antenna laws is hindering the installation of infrastructure necessary for signal improvement.
A survey carried out by Conexis Brasil Digital, an organization representing telecommunications and connectivity companies, reveals that only 399 out of Brazil's 5,568 municipalities (7.16% of the total) have updated their local antenna laws to accommodate 5G technology. This issue is not confined to smaller cities, as even major capitals like Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Natal, and Recife have yet to adapt their telecommunications legislation, despite having access to 5G signals.
Progress has been made, albeit slowly. The number of municipalities aligning their local laws with the General Antenna Law (LGA) has increased from 347 in 2022 to 573 in the last year, marking a 65 percent rise. However, 174 localities still need to update their legislation to accommodate 5G technology.
Potential
According to Conexis Brasil, which manages the Conecte 5G project, the existence of municipal laws that facilitate antenna installation, with clear guidelines and swift licensing processes, attracts investments by providing legal certainty for operators. Unlike 3G and 4G technologies, 5G technology does not require the construction of towers; instead, antennas can be installed on top of buildings with minimal impact on the urban landscape.
Despite legislative obstacles, 5G coverage in Brazil exceeds targets set by the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel). The technology is available in all cities with over 500,000 inhabitants and in most municipalities with over 200,000 inhabitants, surpassing the original 5G rollout plan, which aimed for universal coverage in cities with over 500,000 inhabitants by July 2025 and in cities with over 200,000 inhabitants by July 2026.
However, Conexis Brasil warns that the delay in updating legislation is impeding the full potential of 5G technology. As the digital economy demands more antennas than the current network can provide, cities without updated laws face challenges in installing necessary infrastructure.
