5G Progress Report: Brazil

Brazil’s multi-band 5G spectrum auction concluded in November 2021, resulting in total commitments of $8.5 billion (BRL 47.2 billion) and bids from major players: Telefónica Brasil (Vivo), Claro Brasil, and TIM Brasil. It also garnered attention from established regional companies, such as Algar Telecom and Sercomtel, as well as several lesser-known participants.

How are Brazil's 5G licensees making progress three and a half years later? Here's what the data says.

Telefónica Brasil (Vivo)

• Spectrum Acquired: 2.3GHz, 3.5GHz, and 26GHz
• 5G Launch Date: July 2022
• Total 5G Cell Sites Deployed: 17,184 (May 2025)
• 5G Population Coverage: 63.2% (May 2025)
• Total 5G Subscriptions: 19,217,604 (May 2025)

The “Big Three” operators all switched on their 5G networks in tandem, with synchronized launches in Brasília in July 2022.

The 3.5GHz band was freed up on a rolling basis, with the process concluding on December 2, 2024, some 14 months ahead of schedule. Since that date, all 5,570 towns and cities in Brazil have been approved for 5G, although actual network deployments vary among operators.

Three-and-a-half years after receiving its 5G licenses, Vivo—Brazil’s largest mobile operator by subscriptions—can claim the country’s most extensive 5G subscription base.

As of May 2025 (the most recent official data available), there were approximately 19.2 million users connected to its 5G Standalone network.  

Vivo’s 5G footprint currently spans 17,184 cell sites across 562 municipalities, delivering coverage to 63.2% of the population. 

TIM Brasil

• Spectrum Acquired: 2.3GHz, 3.5GHz, and 26GHz
• 5G Launch Date: July 2022
• Total 5G Cell Sites Deployed: 13,189 (May 2025)
• 5G Population Coverage: 62.3% (May 2025)
• Total 5G Subscriptions: 11,627,165 (May 2025)

Like its chief rivals, TIM Brasil activated its 3.5GHz 5G network in July 2022 and has since deployed the country’s most extensive fifth-generation mobile network.

While the network only spans 13,189 cell sites—far fewer than Vivo—TIM still manages to offer 5G access in a whopping 705 municipalities, more than double the number served by Claro. This footprint was equivalent to population coverage of 62.3%

Although it has made significant inroads in terms of 5G infrastructure, TIM Brasil claimed 11.6 million 5G subscriptions in May 2025, placing it behind Claro and Vivo in terms of uptake.

Claro Brasil

• Spectrum Acquired: 2.3GHz, 3.5GHz, and 26GHz
• 5G Launch Date: July 2022
• Total 5G Cell Sites Deployed: 12,595 (May 2025)
• 5G Population Coverage: 54.0% (May 2025)
• Total 5G Subscriptions: 16,128,080 (May 2025)

Claro Brasil—the telco backed by regional powerhouse América Móvil—is doing its best to keep pace with Vivo, with 16.1 million 5G accounts on its books as of May 2025.

However, Claro has a notably smaller 5G footprint than its long-term rival. The operator has 12,595 5G cell sites in service, providing coverage to 317 towns and cities, which account for approximately 54% of the population.

With one eye on the future, in July 2024, Claro announced that it had achieved download speeds of 10.4 Gbps in a 5.5G (5G-Advanced) trial conducted alongside Huawei. The test, which was carried out outdoors in Lago Sul (Brasilia), used 800MHz of millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum, which was aggregated with 270MHz of existing 5G frequencies.

Brisanet Telecomunicacoes

• Spectrum Acquired: 2.3GHz and 3.5GHz
• 5G Launch Date: August 2023
• Total 5G Cell Sites Deployed: 1,691 (May 2025)
• 5G Population Coverage: 4.4% (May 2025)
• Total 5G Subscriptions: 66,738 (May 2025)

Ceara-based ISP Brisanet acquired a trio of 5G licenses in November 2021’s spectrum auction: a pair of 80MHz 3.5GHz licenses covering the Northeast and the Midwest, alongside a 50MHz block of 2.3GHz spectrum covering the Northeast.

Huawei was selected as Brisanet’s 5G vendor in May 2022, and the telco switched on 4G/5G connectivity in August 2023 using the 2.3GHz band. It currently offers mobile access to 4.4% of the population, via 1,691 cell sites across 144 cities.

Despite its best efforts, Brisanet is struggling to generate customer interest and claimed just 66,738 5G subscribers as of May 2025.

According to the terms of its 5G license, Brisanet is committed to activating fifth-generation mobile services in 1,437 cities with fewer than 30,000 inhabitants between 2026 and 2029, but is optimistic about fulfilling all regulatory requirements before the end of 2026.

Unifique

• Spectrum Acquired: 3.5GHz (as part of Consorcio 5G Sul)
• 5G Launch Date: November 2023
• Total 5G Cell Sites Deployed: 235 (May 2025)
• 5G Population Coverage: 0.8% (May 2025)
• Total 5G Subscriptions: 157,538 (May 2025)

Alongside fellow fixed-line operator Ligga Telecom (formerly known as Copel Telecom), Unifique successfully bid on a regional 3.5 GHz license in the November 2021 5G spectrum auction.

Through the “Consorcio 5G Sul” consortium, the companies agreed to pay BRL 73.6 million for an 80 MHz block of spectrum (3620 MHz-3700 MHz). However, “goodwill” of approximately BRL 69 million will be converted into investment commitments serving locations in the south of the country. (Note: Unifique holds a 62.77% stake in the JV, while Ligga owns the remaining 37.23% share.)

In April 2023, Unifique enlisted Chinese vendor ZTE to supply 5G equipment to support its network rollout. Unifique went on to launch 5G mobile technology on November 11, 2023, in Garuva (Santa Catarina).

Despite having a far smaller network footprint than its fellow newcomer Brisanet—just 235 cell sites across 58 municipalities—Unifique has managed to sign up more than double the number of 5G subscriptions, and served 157,538 5G users as of May 2025.  

By the end of 2029, Unifique intends to offer 5G connectivity in all municipalities with fewer than 30,000 inhabitants in the states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, as well as in other cities of interest, such as state capitals.

Algar Telecom

• Spectrum Acquired: 2.3GHz, 3.5GHz, and 26GHz
• 5G Launch Date: December 2021
• Total 5G Cell Sites Deployed: 191 (May 2025)
• 5G Population Coverage: 1.3% (May 2025)
• Total 5G Subscriptions: Undisclosed

Algar secured 5G-suitable frequencies in the 2.3 GHz, 3.5 GHz, and 26 GHz bands, going on to launch 5G Non-Standalone services using the 2.3 GHz band on December 15, 2021. From launch, the network covered selected areas of Uberlândia, Uberaba, and Franca in São Paulo.

Neither industry watchdog Anatel nor Algar Telecom has issued statistics regarding the uptake of the 5G services. However, it is worth noting that Algar’s mobile network currently serves far more M2M/IoT accounts than it does mobile telephony customers.

Algar operates 191 5G cell sites spanning 33 towns and cities within its traditional operating region.

Ligga Telecom (formerly Copel Telecom)

• Spectrum Acquired: 3.5GHz (as part of Consorcio 5G Sul)
• 5G Launch Date: H2 2025 (planned); company employees were carrying out proof-of-concept testing in March 2025
• Total 5G Cell Sites Deployed: 20 FWA cell sites 
• 5G Population Coverage: N/A
• Total 5G Subscriptions: Zero

Ligga Telecom (formerly Copel Telecom) launched a 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) network in Manaus on November 20, 2023, using its 3.5 GHz spectrum. The telco has deployed 20 FWA cell sites in District 1 of Manaus Free Trade Zone, using public lighting infrastructure to house its Nokia transmission equipment.

Ligga has subsequently turned its attention toward the launch of a mobile solution. Indeed, in March 2025, new Ligga CEO Rosangela Miqueletti revealed that proof-of-concept testing was being carried out by company employees, ahead of a proposed launch in Curitiba, the capital of Parana. The company hopes to launch its mobile service before the end of 2025.

Ligga’s sister company, Sercomtel, successfully bid on a 1×80 MHz block of 5G-suitable 3.5 GHz spectrum covering the North and São Paulo. 

Sercomtel—which hasn’t upgraded its 3G networks to 4G—subsequently agreed to sell its 3.5G Hz licenses to Consorcio Amazonia 5G, an alliance of local ISPs, in April 2025. In addition, in June 2025, Anatel authorized the transfer of Sercomtel’s mobile license and associated spectrum permits to Ligga. 

iez! Telecom

• Spectrum Acquired: 3.5GHz 
• 5G Launch Date: Launch slated for 2025
• Total 5G Cell Sites Deployed: 0 
• 5G Population Coverage: N/A
• Total 5G Subscriptions: Zero

Cloud2u, a subsidiary of Grupo Greatek, won a 1×80MHz block of 3.5GHz spectrum in Brazil’s multi-band 5G spectrum auction. In February 2023, the company rebranded itself as iez! Telecom, and commenced testing of a 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) platform in São José dos Campos. Initial trials yielded download speeds of up to 850Mbps.

In January 2024, iez! signed a contract with TowerCo Highline to use 1,000 cell towers in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and Espirito Santo ahead of its planned 5G launch. The operator will stage an initial pilot project in a city with fewer than 30,000 inhabitants before preparing a full rollout schedule. The newcomer aims to target the mobile and FWA sectors, while also providing a platform for MVNOs.

According to its licensing conditions, the company has 5G coverage obligations in a total of 777 cities. Specifically, 25% of these locations must be covered by 2026, another 25% by 2027, and 25% by 2028, with the remainder to be serviced by 2029.

Winity Telecom

• Spectrum Acquired: 700MHz
• 5G Launch Date: Cancelled; license returned to Anatel in December 2023
• Total 5G Cell Sites Deployed: N/A
• 5G Population Coverage: N/A
• Total 5G Subscriptions: N/A

Finally, Winity Telecom—a holding company backed by alternative asset management firm Patria Investimentos—successfully bid on a national 2×10 MHz 700 MHz license in Brazil’s 5G spectrum auction. Winity paid $276.8 million (BRL 1.428 billion), the highest bid for a single spectrum lot in the auction.

In September 2022, Winity enlisted Amdocs to support the rollout of its 4G and 5G networks across remote communities in Brazil. Then, in June 2023, it teamed up with satellite operator Hughes do Brasil (HughesNet) and regional player Algar Telecom to launch its “RuralChip” LTE pilot project.

The service went live on June 16, 2023, using Winity’s spectrum in the 700 MHz band. The pilot took place in two Maranhão-based towns: Presidente Juscelino and Cururupu.

Hughes supplied each cell site with a high-capacity backhaul solution, while Algar offered the use of its network operations center and data center. Ericsson equipment was used in Presidente Juscelino, while the Cururupu cell site leveraged Nokia technology.

The newcomer planned to build 5,000 cell towers by 2029 and establish itself as Brazil’s first wholesale operator, but made negligible progress and ultimately returned its 700MHz concession to Anatel in December 2023 after failing to meet its obligation to cover 250 unserved locations by the same deadline.

Subsequently, several 3.5GHz license holders have been granted secondary spectrum access to the 700MHz band on a short-term basis. Going forward, Anatel plans to prioritize a new auction of the 700MHz band in late 2025 or early 2026. 

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