Nokia said it has followed its recent deal to upgrade Telefonica’s IP network in Spain with a contract to help the operator’s Movistar Chile unit prepare for the commercial launch of 5G services. The agreement to modernise Movistar Chile’s 4G and 4G+ network and upgrade to 5G services covers several cities and will see Nokia’s AirScale technology installed to strengthen the operator’s critical network backbone.
The upgraded network, which will operate across Movistar’s recently-won spectrum in Chile’s 5G auction in the 3.5GHz band, will use Nokia’s AirScale Radio Access portfolio to enable both residential consumers and SME customers to access 5G in Chile for the first time. Nokia said its AirScale technology can be upgraded from 4G/LTE to 5G/NR via a software-based upgrade to enable a smooth evolution towards 5G deployments.
The high-speed mobile technology will be supported by Movistar Chile's fibre-optic network, which will allow the different mobile antennas deployed in cities to be interconnected. Nokia added that the upgraded network will also offer Movistar’s business customers access to 5G use cases, including support for Industry 4.0, public sector and health innovations, as well as private wireless connections.
Movistar acquired 50 MHz in the 3.5Ghz band in February’s 5G auction in Chile, the first country in Latin America to run a tender for 5G frequencies. Coverage requirements for the 3.5GHz licences include bringing high speed mobile data connections to 366 localities that are currently unserved or underserved.
