The telecommunications company CW Panama announced on Thursday that it will start the tests in a controlled environment to deploy the 5g network in Panama.

The announcement was made by the president of the company Rocío Lorenzo during her annual Move On event in which they make known the new trends in the industry and their future projects.

The company indicated that among the pilot tests that will be implemented is the launch of the first pilot launched today at the event with strategic partners, followed by the coverage of the electoral elections by the media in the month of May 2024.

They will also have a pilot in the retail sector with the implementation of a 5G extended NETWORK LAN for video surveillance systems in distribution and storage centers.

Another pilot in one of the main ports of Panama that through the 5G WIFI Network will manage the remote control platforms with which efficiency, security and surveillance results are expected to improve the operation of the port.

Lorenzo indicated that a technology exchange rate of this type happens in the market every 5 to 15 years.

The company indicated that once they have completed the pilot tests, they will proceed to make the commercial launch.

It is then up to the telecommunications regulator, in this case the National Authority of Public Services has to execute a public consultation to conclude with the frequency of the spectrum 3.5 that is used for 5g technology at this time for these tests, pilot.

“We have a spectrum loan from the public services authority in 3.5 to be able to execute them,” said Roberto Mendoza of CW Panama.

One of the advantages of using 5g technology is that it is much faster than the one currently used, LTE, and it will be more so when the tests are finished because the borrowed spectrum is limited. A second benefit in 5g compared to the 3G network we have a much lower latency, that means that when a data packet is sent from a terminal to a remote server with 5g, it will arrive much faster.

And a third advantage is that the company will be able to expand, since this allows it to connect many more devices than today.

As for investments, Lorenzo said that they do not yet have a figure, but he assured that this will represent a significant investment. Annually, the company invests about $100 million in Panama, the executive said.

Armando Fuentes, administrator of the ASEP said that the law allows the regulator to make a loan of this spectrum of up to 4 months to operators free of charge. If more time is required, it could be two more months and if more time is needed, then they will need an approval from the Cabinet Council.

A few weeks ago the cabinet council of Panama announced the new prices for telecommunications bands, a cheaper cost than those that were held, however, the regulator recognizes that Panama has the highest prices in the region on this issue.