Brazil's National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL) finalized its proposal to sunset legacy 2G and 3G cellular technologies by officially enacting Act No. 14430/2024. Following the review of public feedback from Public Consultation No. 36/2024, the final measure amends Act No. 3151/2020 and Act No. 3152/2020 to prohibit new ANATEL approvals for 3G-only mobile phones, terminal access stations, and cellular modules. The policy shift aims to optimize national spectrum allocation, directing infrastructure investment toward expanding 4G LTE and 5G networks across Brazil.
Under the binding requirements of Act No. 14430/2024, taking effect on April 6, 2025, all mobile phones and voice-capable terminal modules seeking new ANATEL certification must explicitly support Voice over LTE (VoLTE) technology, including emergency call support and SMS over IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). Furthermore, new homologations for standalone 3G or 2G equipment are banned, with narrow exceptions reserved for automotive spare parts subject to special authorization by ANATEL’s Certification and Numbering Management (ORCN).
Importantly, the regulation includes a grandfathering provision for legacy equipment certified prior to the April 6, 2025 enforcement date. Existing approvals for 3G-compatible products can maintain their certification validity through routine maintenance without requiring technical modifications. However, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and telecommunications importers preparing new product launches for the Brazilian market must ensure their device portfolios incorporate native 4G/5G and VoLTE features to meet mandatory type approval criteria.
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