LTE: Brazil: Vivo and Oi named suppliers for their LTE networks.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

LTE: Brazil: Vivo and Oi named suppliers for their LTE networks.

Brazilian operators Vivo and Oi have named the suppliers for their LTE networks. Vivo, Telefonica’s subsidiary in the country, has announced that Swedish vendor Ericsson will supply and implement its 4G network in the North and Mid-Western regions of Brazil, as well as the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Bahia and Sergipe.

Ericsson will also be responsible for network implementation, including network rollout, design and support services. Ericsson has implemented Vivo’s GSM, WCDMA and HSPA technologies in the past.

Rival Oi has also selected Ericsson, along with Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) and Alcatel Lucent for its LTE network, the operator told local reporters according to Reuters. Ericsson said that with these deals it has now signed 89 LTE contracts across 38 countries.

The news follows a report from the GSMA, which claims that mobile services will shape Brazil’s economic future. The country is the fourth largest mobile market in the world with more than 260 million active mobile connections, 60 million of which are mobile broadband, according to the association. It is set to maintain a strong pace of growth and reach 135 million mobile broadband connections by 2014.

LTE: Brazil: Oi preparing LTE network build.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

LTE: Brazil: Oi preparing LTE  network build.

Brazil’s number four operator Oi is to invest BRL1 billion (US$493 million) in developing an LTE network in the country between now and 2015 and plans to achieve 50 percent coverage in seven Brazilian cities by April 2013.

Oi’s chief executive Francisco Valim made the comments during the launch of a network using the new technology in Leblon, Rio de Janeiro, yesterday. Valim said the company will sign supplier contracts for 4G technology on October 16.

Oi’s plans come as Latin America’s largest mobile market is required to build-out 4G coverage in the host cities for the 2014 football World Cup, which is being held in Brazil.

In June the country’s four largest mobile operators all acquired 4G spectrum in auctions, netting BRL2.72 billion in total for the government. Telefonica’s Vivo submitted the highest winning bid (BRL1.05 billion), followed by America Movil’s Claro (BRL844.5 million), TIM Brasil (BRL375 million) and Oi (BRL345 million). 4G spectrum was up for grabs in both the 2.5GHz and 450MHz bands, suitable for urban and rural coverage respectively.