Nokia has signed an agreement with Claro Argentina to roll out 5G infrastructure across the country, making Nokia the sole supplier and significantly expanding its market share in Argentina.
Claro Argentina’s 5G rollout will initially target the country’s largest cities. Nokia equipment will come from its 5G AirScale portfolio, including the energy-efficient ReefShark System-on-Chip technology. The rollout will include base stations, baseband units and the latest Massive MIMO radios. Nokia will also be responsible for planning, deployment, integration and network optimization services.
Julio Carlos Porras, CEO of Claro Argentina, said: “Investing in 5G networks with our partner Nokia will further digitalize society by bringing faster connections, increased capacity and seamless connectivity to densely populated areas, supporting both citizens and businesses. This will enable unprecedented levels of innovation and efficiency across sectors, enabling organizations to thrive in today’s fast-changing digital environment.”
Nokia’s IPAA+ technology is a notable feature, offering a modular design that supports frequencies from 700 MHz to 2.6 GHz as well as the 3.5 GHz 5G band, making Claro Argentina the first Latin American customer to leverage it extensively, accelerating the rollout of 5G.
“Our 5G portfolio establishes the foundation for digital transformation, opening up exciting new opportunities for people and businesses to experience enhanced mobile connectivity,” said Tommi Uitto, president, Mobile Networks, Nokia.
Earlier, Telecom Argentina, which operates under the personal brand, announced plans to expand its 5G Standalone (SA) network to high-income areas in 2024. The company aims to launch its 5G SA network in Córdoba and Rosario by the end of the year. Telecom Argentina is the first operator to roll out 5G SA technology in Argentina, starting with Buenos Aires in 2023.
In October 2023, Claro, Movistar and Personal secured frequencies for 5G services in a government tender. The GSMA forecasts that the number of 5G subscribers in Argentina will grow from 5.7 million in 2025 to 34.7 million by 2030. The GSMA also forecasts that 5G penetration will increase from 9% in 2025 to 48% by 2030.
