Nubicom, a newcomer to the Paraguayan telecommunications market, has announced plans to invest around US$200 million over the coming years to establish a standalone 5G network in Paraguay, aiming to build the country’s largest 5G infrastructure.
The Argentine operator revealed this intention shortly after being awarded a license to provide 5G services in Paraguay and establishing a local entity, Nubicom Paraguay.
The company primarily offers fixed internet and telecommunications services across several Argentine provinces, including Salta, Jujuy, and Catamarca, and provides video surveillance systems for the region. Nubicom’s move into Paraguay marks its first expansion outside Argentina, driven by the country’s regulatory environment, which offers more affordable licenses with flexible deadlines, enabling cost savings that can be allocated to network deployment.
Nubicom and Claro, the other license winner, secured 200MHz of spectrum in the 3.5GHz band after a tender held in August. The auction did not include Tigo and Personal, as reports indicate that these operators opted out due to restrictive rules on vendor participation, which excluded Chinese equipment manufacturers. However, there are indications that Tigo is engaged in discussions with Paraguay’s regulator, Conatel, to gain access to spectrum allocated for 5G services.
Nubicom states that it has already met most of the technical and operational requirements for the spectrum auction, including expertise in tower design, fibre deployment, radio links, and hybrid energy solutions. The company plans to partner with Ericsson and Nokia for the more specialized aspects of its 5G rollout, with funding likely coming from one or more undisclosed financial backers.
According to the auction rules, Nubicom and Claro are required to deploy at least 100 radio base stations across Paraguay for every 100MHz of spectrum awarded. Furthermore, 10% of these stations must serve facilities of government agencies and entities designated by Conatel and the Ministry of ICT. Nubicom’s entry into the market has faced some challenges, as local telecom operator Personal’s subsidiary, Nucleo, suggested that Nubicom did not meet the auction requirement of having at least 100,000 customers, a criterion set by Conatel. Nubicom, however, asserts that it fulfilled all the eligibility conditions.
