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Oi and Nokia sign network transformation agreement to prepare for future fixed and mobile broadband demand in Brazil

Press Release 

5 December 2018

Espoo, Finland – Nokia and Oi have signed a long-term technology partnership to enable Oi to meet increasing demand for fiber connectivity in the home and expand mobile broadband coverage and capacity, while preparing for the future introduction of 5G. Nokia will leverage its radio access, IP and optical transport and fixed broadband solutions and services, working with Oi on the service provider’s operational restructuring process, as part of its recovery plan.

Reductions in broadband subscription prices and a growing adoption of smartphones have led to an increase in demand for data services in the home and on the move in Brazil. The introduction of fiber-to-the-home has led to renewed demands for residential broadband services in regions previously covered only by copper networks. Oi and Nokia have signed a series of agreements under which they expect will drive new speeds, capacity and performance in Oi’s network to meet these growing demands and connect up to 10 million houses by 2021.

Nokia will continue Oi’s widespread optical transport and IP access network expansion, delivering up to 10 Terabits per second capacity throughput using dense-wave-division-multiplexing optical transport and IP routing technology. The optical transport network will serve as the backbone for high-speed fiber-to-the-home services, in addition to the Nokia AirScale radio access network to support growing mobile broadband demand as Oi transitions toward 5G.

The deployment of the Nokia AirScale single radio access network across the country will support 2G, 3G and 4G services and can be software upgraded to support 5G. This will allow Oi to expand its 4G offering as it gradually reduces 2G and 3G services, while preparing for the delivery of 5G. 

Network and service operations will be enhanced through increasing use of automation and analytics, including the Nokia AVA cognitive services platform. An improved customer experience will be enabled through machine learning and prescriptive analytics that can predict and prevent service degradations up to 7 days in advance.

Nokia and Oi will also explore residential broadband service quality, adopting new models to improve the ‘Oi Fibra’ and ‘Oi TV’ services as well as the customer experience. The companies have signed a reseller agreement that will enable Oi to offer Nokia WiFi beacons in its retail outlets in the country. This  solution, once installed, quickly establishes a whole-home meshed WiFi network that significantly enhances ultra-broadband coverage and performance.

Eurico Teles, CEO of Oi, said: “We expect that this long-term technology partnership agreement will allow us to consolidate our suppliers and benefit from greater operational efficiencies as we continue our restructuring process.”

Osvaldo Di Campli, head of Nokia Latin America, said: “With an end-to-end technology and services portfolio we are able to work with service providers such as Oi to deliver new capabilities in fixed and mobile services as they transition toward 5G.”

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Forward-looking statements:
This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Brazilian applicable regulation. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements regarding the beliefs and expectations of Oi, business strategies, future synergies and cost savings, future costs and future liquidity are forward-looking statements. The words “will,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “targets,” “goal” and similar expressions, as they relate to Oi or its management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. There is no guarantee that the expected events, tendencies or expected results will actually occur. Such statements reflect the current views of management of Oi and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, corporate approvals, operational factors and other factors. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. All forward-looking statements attributable to Oi or its affiliates, or persons acting on their behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements set forth in this paragraph. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required under the Brazilian or U.S. federal securities laws or the rules and regulations of the Brazilian Securities Commission (Comissão de Valores Mobiliários) (“CVM”), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or of regulatory authorities in other applicable jurisdictions, Oi and its affiliates do not have any intention or obligation to update, revise or publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures Oi makes on related subjects in reports and communications that Oi files with the CVM and the SEC.

Media Inquiries:
Claudia Roman
Nokia Latin America Communications
Phone: +5511952576290
Email: claudia.roman@nokia.com

Nokia
Communications
Phone: +358 10 448 4900
Email: press.services@nokia.com