The largest Chilean telecommunications company Entel reached an agreement with Ericsson which will pave the way for the launch of 5G and IoT services.
Under the terms of the deal, Entel will deploy a 5G network using products and solutions from the Ericsson Radio System and Ericsson Spectrum Sharing portfolio, including Massive MIMO radios for high-band (26GHz), mid-band (3.5GHz), and "millimeter wave" services.
According to the release, both services are expected to be launched before the end of the year. The new 5G agreement will help enable several 5G applications using augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) along with IoT capabilities.
Ericsson says this will allow Entel to increase its competitiveness and capture additional revenue streams, with Entel becoming the first operator in Latin America to deploy Massive MIMO nationwide.
Entel will also evolve the Radio Network Controllers and EVO controllers across the network, including remote locations such as Easter Island, and upgrade the transport network with the introduction of Ericsson’s microwave solutions, a section of which now tap into E-band spectrum to cater for capacity increases in backhaul and fronthaul.
"Our purpose is to bring together the infinite possibilities offered by technology and to project ourselves as a transforming agent for society, through technological enablers that improve people's quality of life, the competitiveness of companies, and therefore society. with more opportunities for everyone. And together with Ericsson, we will be able to continue to provide our customers with innovative new services and use cases, along with a superior browsing experience, leveraged on the new 5G network, ”said Antonio Büchi, CEO of Entel.
Both companies have been working on the implementation of 5G since 2019.
Rival operator Movistar, owned by Spanish telecoms giant Telefónica, selected Nokia to provide its AirScale portfolio to launch the operator's 5G network in Chile.