Nokia, Solis partner to support agribusinesses in Brazil

Nokia has formed a partnership with Solis Tower Telecom do Brasil, a telecom infrastructure organization, to offer a flexible and competitive digital agriculture solution, bringing much-needed connectivity to agribusinesses in rural parts of Brazil.

The partnership will see the expansion of private wireless networks that will help to deliver gains in productivity, efficiency, and sustainability and ultimately an increase in food production. Agribusinesses represent approximately a quarter of Brazil’s GDP.

The partnership will also drive digital inclusion and bring reliable connectivity to many farming communities in rural or plantation areas. Many rural parts of Brazil are still unconnected and only 19% of the land available for agricultural use in Brazil has 4G or 5G coverage. The new network will enable workers to perform everyday tasks such as accessing banking apps or connecting with their families. It will also drive productivity by enabling instant communication between workers and managers.

Nokia provided a range of equipment from its industry-leading AirScale portfolio including small cells, baseband, Macro Remote Radio Heads and base stations. Nokia also provided its energy-efficient all-in-one cabinet solutions with advanced cooling solutions for outdoor use. Nokia’s solutions also support Internet of Things (IoT) technologies such as NB-IoT and LTE-M, enabling a host of machines, people and sensors to be connected seamlessly for providing detailed real-time information that supports agribusinesses.

Solis is an NB-IoT provider and an MVNO operator dedicated to Brazilian agribusinesses. They have the capacity to build infrastructure and meet the demands of a country as large as Brazil with the quality and reliability that new agricultural operations require.

The partnership is already delivering advantages to many farms in Brazil, including the Vera Cruz do Xingu farm in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Henrique Carneiro Gonçalves, Director of Vera Cruz do Xingu farm, said: “The introduction of a private LTE network has transformed our operations. Now we can communicate easily with everyone on the farm solving issues and driving greater synergies and productivity. IoT monitors give us instant access to information on things such as humidity, harvesting or fuel consumption helping us to be more efficient, save money and get better outcomes. The possibilities seem endless.”

Felippe Antonelle, Solis Co-Founder, said: “This important project will have a transformative impact on farming communities across Brazil giving them access to critical communications and internet access. It will drive greater efficiencies and increases in productivity. We are delighted to partner with Nokia on this and look forward to seeing how it will develop in the future.”

Renato Bueno, Enterprise Sales Director for Nokia Mobile Networks in Latin America, said: “Bringing reliable connectivity and accelerating the digitalization of these rural communities is essential. It will help businesses and workers collaborate and innovate, becoming more productive and efficient, while enabling easier communications with co-workers and families. Through our industry-leading technology, we help our customer Solis bridge the digital divide and connect the unconnected.”