Claro selects Nokia to deploy Colombia’s largest 5G network

Nokia and Claro have announced the successful completion of the first stage of Colombia’s largest 5G deployment covering over 1,000 sites nationwide. The project, which was completed only four months after Colombian authorities issued 5G licenses, will provide state-of-the-art radio, core, and transport technologies delivering best-in-class coverage and connectivity. The deal will lay the foundations for future innovation across industries such as transport, mining, energy and oil and gas amongst others.

Under the contract, Nokia is supplying equipment from its comprehensive, energy efficient AirScale portfolio for both indoor and outdoor scenarios. This includes base stations, high-capacity Massive MIMO antennas and remote radio head (RRH) solutions. Nokia has also signed a further deal to deploy additional 400 5G sites. Nokia will also provide its MantaRay NM solution for seamless network management and MantaRay SON for automated operations as well as network optimization and technical support services.

The deal provides 5G coverage in six of Colombia’s largest cities, with plans to further expand into 14 additional cities in 2024.

Nokia is providing a variety of software solutions, including its fully automated 5G Core for ultra-low latency performance that enables the delivery of advanced services and new revenue streams such as FWA; Nokia Assurance Center, which facilitates automated network decision-making by leveraging diverse data sets and operational intelligence, NetGuard Cybersecurity Dome and NetGuard Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) a threat detection and incident suite delivered in a SaaS subscription model to improve efficiency and response times to new and existing cyber threats.

Nokia’s IP Anyhaul solution will also provide scalable, seamless, and low latency mobile backhaul and fronthaul connectivity, based on FP5-based 7750 service routers and 7250 interconnect routers, with highly efficient operational automation provided by the Network Services Platform (NSP). In addition, Claro will deploy Nokia’s flagship 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS) platform to provide high-speed, multiservice connectivity across its metro transport network to support traffic from Aggregation to Concentration layers. Claro’s optical network will be managed by the WaveSuite optical automation software applications for end-to-end network management and resource control.

Nokia has been Claro’s trusted partner for over 20 years covering 2G, 3G, 4G and now 5G. Nokia and Claro Colombia recently deployed an industrial-grade private 4.9G wireless network and edge computing solution at the port terminal of Sociedad Portuaria Puerto Bahía in Cartagena, Colombia.

Rodrigo de Gusmao, CEO at Claro Colombia, said: “We are delighted to have our 5G network up and running in record time. 5G connectivity is a game changer and its incredible speeds, security and capacity provides the platform to deliver next-level services to our customers as well as a range of industries. We are excited to continue our long-standing partnership with Nokia who will help us lead this 5G revolution.”

Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, said: “We are proud to continue our long-standing partnership with Claro Colombia into the 5G era. The close collaboration of both companies was key to completing this project in record time. Together, we have built the foundations for spearheading the digital transformation in Colombia, which will benefit the society, its citizens and its businesses. Our industry-leading AirScale portfolio will underpin this change with premium-grade capacity, performance and coverage. I look forward to continuing this partnership in the years to come.”