The 12th Latin America Spectrum Management Conference, kindly hosted by ENACOM and Secretaría de Innovación, Ciencia y Tecnología, took place on 12 -13 November, 2025, at the Centro Cultural de la Ciencia – C3 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Across 2 days attendees had the opportunity to be involved in discussions on the key spectrum topics for the Latin America region and beyond, through interactive sessions, networking opportunities, an exhibition area, and much more…
This event is part of The Global Spectrum Series, the world’s largest collection of regional spectrum policy conferences. Click on the images on the right to find out more about the series and to view the photos from 2024.
With WRC-27 now just over 2 years away, we are reaching the mid-point of the current WRC ‘cycle’, and preparation around the world is well underway. The most recent regional preparatory meeting for the Americas (PCCII) was held just a few weeks before this conference. Building on the outcomes from that meeting and also looking more generally at the preparatory work that is taking place, this session will provide an update on the progress that is being seen across the region. By analysing current trends, identifying potential challenges, and highlighting areas where greater regional alignment may be needed, the discussion will lay out the next steps over the coming months for continued preparatory efforts. The session will aim to provide strategic insights and support the development of a coordinated and effective approach to ensure a successful regional outcome at WRC-27.
Latin American countries are continuing to progress toward next-generation connectivity, with an increasing number now having deployed 5G networks. This session will assess the current state of 5G deployment across the region, highlighting national milestones, early use cases, and spectrum utilisation to date. It will examine the persistent challenges that are slowing broader rollout, including investment shortfalls, infrastructure gaps, device affordability, and look at how these can be overcome. A key focus will be on how greater regional harmonisation and cross-border coordination in band planning, licensing frameworks, and technical standards can help reduce deployment costs, encourage economies of scale, and accelerate the benefits of 5G for consumers and industry alike.
Over the next decade, Latin America will face mounting and diverse demands for spectrum from a growing range of technologies, including 5G, future 6G systems, fixed wireless access (FWA), satellite connectivity, Wi-Fi, private networks, broadcasting, PMSE/wireless mics and vertical applications (such as smart grids and industrial IoT). At the same time, governments and stakeholders must also address the region’s broader connectivity needs, supporting digital transformation across industries, cities, and public services. This session will explore how to strike the right balance between competing spectrum needs in the short to medium term (2025–2035), while also enabling timely and effective access to technologies that can meet these evolving demands. Discussions will examine how to manage coexistence, prioritise allocations, and implement flexible licensing and refarming strategies that reflect both current usage trends and future requirements. The role of forward-looking spectrum roadmaps, forecasting tools, and regional coordination will also be highlighted as key enablers of smart, inclusive, and future-proof spectrum planning.
Two years on from WRC-23, the situation in the 6GHz band across the Americas is not becoming any clearer. Much of the region has decided to open the full 1,200 MHz of the band (5.9 to 7.1 GHz) to unlicensed use, generally with an emphasis on low-power applications. This is not universal, however, some countries are still considering moving forward with a licensed regime in the upper part of the band, and notably, in early 2025, Brazil reversed their initial decision and have identified the 6425–7125 MHz band for IMT. Against this shifting backdrop, this session will look at the positions which are emerging and changing and the factors that are impacting this. Given recent developments, it will look at whether a fragmented approach across the region is now inevitable and at the impact that it may have. And finally, it will look forward to what the likely long-term scenarios are and at whether the region is on the path to ensuring that the value of this high-value spectrum is maximised.
As the global conversation around 6G accelerates, Latin America has an opportunity to play an active role in shaping its development from the ground up. While 5G deployment remains the immediate priority across the region, early policy coordination, research investment, and spectrum strategy will be critical to ensure 6G readiness and relevance in the years ahead. Unlike previous generations, 6G is expected to move beyond traditional performance metrics – enabling distributed intelligence, integrated sensing, sub-THz communications, and AI-native networks. These advancements will demand not only large contiguous blocks of spectrum but also bold rethinking of access models, infrastructure sharing, and cross-sector collaboration. This session will look ahead to how Latin American countries are already starting to proactively prepare for this technological evolution and at the work that lies ahead. It will examine which spectrum bands may be most viable, how policy and licensing frameworks might need to evolve, and what the region can do now to ensure its 6G strategies are globally aligned while addressing local economic and social priorities.
(hosted by Chicas TIC)
Despite significant progress in expanding connectivity across Latin America, stark digital divides remain between urban centres and rural or remote communities. Closing these gaps is not only a matter of infrastructure – it also requires spectrum policy that enables flexible, inclusive, and innovative models of access. From shared spectrum frameworks and local licensing to community driven networks, satellite services, and fixed wireless access, a diverse mix of approaches will be needed to unlock meaningful connectivity in underserved areas. This session will explore how spectrum strategies can be designed to maximise social and economic value in rural regions, support local development, and ensure that no community is left behind in the digital transformation.
As Latin American countries expand access to next-generation mobile networks and spectrum pricing, the design of award processes remains a pivotal factor when it comes to the level of investment and speed of network rollout that is seen. This session will look at recent awards across the region and look at how pricing and award methodology across the region are evolving. With case studies from key Latin American markets and interventions from the mobile community, it will examine how different pricing strategies can either encourage network deployment or create barriers to participation. Where does the balance lie between fiscal returns and broadband expansion, and what impact can a spectrum pricing strategy have in driving sustainable digital growth?
Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite connectivity is rapidly emerging as one of the most transformative innovations in the communications landscape. By enabling standard mobile devices to connect directly to satellites, D2D promises to extend coverage to underserved areas, support emergency communications, and create new service models that integrate seamlessly with terrestrial networks. At the same time, this shift raises complex spectrum management and regulatory challenges. Issues such as spectrum licencing models and whether to leverage mobile (IMT) or satellite (MSS) spectrum frequency bands to deliver connectivity, as well as interference protection, and the suitability of existing licensing regimes are all coming to the fore. This session will examine how regulatory frameworks across Latin America and beyond can evolve to support the rollout of D2D services while balancing the needs of incumbents and new entrants. It will explore the technical, policy, and market implications of D2D and consider what role international coordination will play in shaping its future.
The deployment of large-scale NGSO mega-constellations and the anticipated evolution towards non-terrestrial 6G technologies are unlocking a wide range of exciting new possibilities and opportunities but also bringing significant spectrum management and regulatory challenges. Managing the coexistence of this growing number of diverse NGSO constellations with existing GSOs and other incumbents presents an increasingly complex challenge and calls into question whether existing licensing frameworks across the region remain fit for purpose. This session will examine current regulatory and licensing frameworks across Latin America and discuss the extent to which they are able to cope with the dynamic satellite movements, varying power levels, and congested orbital and spectrum environments that are seen today. It will look at the work that is being done at a national, regional and global level to develop policy and technological solutions that ensure fair access, long-term sustainability, and coexistence in an increasingly crowded sky.
Centro Cultural de la Ciencia – C3
Godoy Cruz 2270, C1414 Cdad. Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
For practical information on travelling to and staying in Buenos Aires, Argentina, including entry requirements, reduced accommodation rates and more, please download the below document, kindly put together by ENACOM.
The conference will take place at the Centro Cultural de la Ciencia – C3 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
If you would like to enquire about possible fellowship, please contact [email protected].
This conference is held fully in-person with no virtual element available.
You can find more information on the Global Spectrum Series here.
This event took place as part of the Global Spectrum Series, for further information on speaking, sponsorship or visibility opportunities, and to discuss how you can maximize the value of involvement, please contact Dan Craft on [email protected] or on +44 (0) 2920 783 020.
For more information on any aspect of this event, please contact the team:
Tel: +44 (0) 2920 783 072
Sign up to receive updates on our upcoming policy events. We will only send you emails about the conferences and topics that interest you, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Luciana Camargos, Head of Spectrum, GSMA 
