Telecommunications operator Claro Argentina and vendor Nokia have signed a comprehensive 5G contract that will see Nokia roll out 5G infrastructure across the country for Claro.
The contract will cover the first phase of 5G deployment in Argentina, reaching all major cities. The contract supports Claro’s strategy to digitalize Argentina by providing reliable, low-latency and ultra-fast connectivity to consumers and businesses. Nokia is the sole supplier and, unsurprisingly, says the deal will increase their market share.
Nokia announced it will deploy its 5G AirScale portfolio of equipment powered by its energy-efficient ReefShark system-on-chip technology, which includes base stations, baseband units and the latest generation of massive MIMO radios to deliver superior 5G capacity, coverage and ease of deployment.
Regarding early beneficiaries of 5G in Argentina, Nokia said the technology will transform many vertical industries in the country, including manufacturing and oil and gas. Nokia will also provide planning, deployment, integration and network optimization services.
Claro is the first operator and first customer in Latin America to deploy Nokia’s Interleaved Passive Active Antenna (IPAA+) across its entire operating area.
Nokia explains that service providers typically face the challenge of finding additional space on towers and rooftops to add 5G antennas. Nokia’s IPAA+ accelerates 5G deployment by addressing this practical issue. With a modular design, the compact antenna solution supports a wide range of frequencies from 700MHz to 2.6GHz, as well as the 3.5GHz 5G band.
Nokia has been a longtime partner of Claro Argentina, helping the company roll out its 2G, 3G, 4G and now 5G networks, but it’s not Nokia’s only customer in Latin America.
The 5G landscape in Latin America is developing rapidly, with Nokia being involved in several major deals recently. For example, we reported earlier this month that Nokia had won a contract from TIM Brasil to expand its 5G network to 15 states in Brazil, while in June we told you that Colombian telecommunications operator Claro had deployed the first phase of its 5G network in collaboration with vendor partner Nokia.
