LIVE FROM GSMA MOBILE 360 LATIN AMERICA, MEXICO: Daniel Hajj, CEO of America Movil, explained how the Latin American giant is meeting the relentless demand for data across its footprint, while looking forward to 5G.

The America Movil chief recalled the advent of the iPhone in 2007, and the leaps forward over the past nine years. “The latest devices are 100 times faster than the first smartphone,” he said.

“There is a lot of room to increase penetration with a wide range of prices. Some are lower than $100. Looking forward, we will reduce prices further,” he added.

Smartphone penetration has driven data demand across the group’s footprint. And it’s not just consumers contributing to an uptick in traffic. IoT and connected devices are also making a major contribution.

Operators are under pressure not just to meet consumer needs but also provide high-quality coverage to encourage inclusion in Latin American countries. Catering for both agendas is a real challenge, he acknowledged.

Move to 5G
He also mentioned 5G: “That technology will come with IoT and has huge capabilities to handle more data with less latency plus better transmission.”

Again, it will also mean more investment.  To justify that capex, the America Movil chief said, “we need a clear framework”.

Later, during the Q&A, he was quizzed about 5G and answered that the group was getting ready for trials followed by a launch in a 2018-19 or even a 2020 timeframe. He gave health and cars as examples of services that depend on low latency offered by future 5G networks.