Brazilian telecom operator Oi has begun a project to implement an optical transport network aimed at a 57-times increase in its backbone data transmission capacity. The OTN project covers 30,000 kilometers reaching 12 cities, including Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Belo Horizonte and Vitória. Oi said the deployment is being made in order to meet the expected increased demand in data transmission.
VoLTE: Colombian operator Avantel tapped Nokia Networks to deploy infrastructure for providing voice-over-LTE services in the country. Nokia Networks is already an equipment supplier for the carrier, having previously implemented an LTE small cell solution designed to enhance Avantel’s network capacity and coverage in Colombia.
More news from the Latin American region:
Mexico: América Móvil’s mobile unit in Mexico, Telcel, announced its own mobile virtual network operator. The MVNO, a prepaid service named Aló, will compete with Virgin Mobile, Movistar’s Tuenti and other MVNO services.
Cisco launched a service center in Mexico that is set to include its Global Technical Center, Latin America Technical Assistance Center and Global Delivery Center.
LatAm: Google plans to invest $1 million in Mexico, Argentina and Colombia. The funds will be used to support three nongovernmental organizations that help people with online access.
Peru: Number portability increased 21% in February, according to Peru’s telecom regulator Osiptel. Since the program began, nearly 250,000 users have changed their telecom provider while keeping their original number. So far, Entel has won over the most customers.
Chile: Movistar announced that its streaming pay-TV service, Go, will be available in Chile in the second half of this year.
Brazil: Chinese cellphone maker Xiaomi is set to start selling devices in Brazil by the second half of this year. According to local news reports, the company will adopt the same online sales model that it uses in China.
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