Oi Experiments 5G Network with Huawei

In news reports, a Brazilian telecom operator, Telefone Oi SA will be examining its 5G network. This will happen during the Rock in Rio music festival.

The telecom operator will be using network equipment given by China’s Huawei Technology.

Moreover, Oi is proposing an annual capital expenditure of R$7.5 billion during 2019.

During the second quarter of 2019, the Capex of Oi achieved 40.8 percent of its revenue.

According to Oi, 5G will be operated by the whole event’s staff in live coverage of the attractions.

Meanwhile, the public will be capable of experimenting with the technology on phones that will be made available in the course of the event.

The “City of Rock” will be the venue of the event. It is a popular place, and personnel are projecting to draw in around 100,000 people per day.

The event will be featuring local and international bands containing Foo Fighters, Bon Jovi and The Black-Eyed Peas, the company added.

Oi Focuses on Restoring Mobile Operations

In a statement, Oi’s operational director Jose Claudio Moreira Gonçalves stated, “we’ve suggested to Rock in Rio the deployment of 5G to transform the event in the first city connected by the technology.”

Brazil recognizes Oi as one of the largest fixed-line carriers. In March, 5G trials started in Buzios in partnership with Huawei. The place is a city in Rio de Janeiro state.

Way back June 2016 Oi filed for bankruptcy protection. This is to reshuffle 65 billion reais in debt.

Oi has also been focusing on restoring its mobile operations. The company’s customer base has declined over 20 percent to 35 million, according to news sources.

Meanwhile, the United States has suspicions regarding Huawei’s equipment. The country said that the equipment could make way for Beijing to spy, which the Chinese firm has repetitively refused.

U.S. firms are prohibited from using some of the firm’s equipment. Moreover, Washington is putting a strain on other countries to abide by the rules.

Oi Negotiates To Sell Mobile Unit

Elsewhere, the Brazilian telecommunications firm is also in talks with Spain’s Telefonica SA and Italy’s Telecom Italia SpA. The negotiation is regarding to sell its mobile network and further avoid liquidation.

According to sources, the firm is expecting to raise more than 10 billion reais ($2.4 billion) by offering its mobile operations.

Oi, in its most recent earnings, reported 35 million mobile clients.

The earnings from the sale would be used in boosting the fiber-to-home broadband service.

According to its strategic plan in July, the company is also considering the key to the company’s growth.

At this present time, Oi has 223,700 miles (360,000 km) of fiber in Brazil, and its structure is also used by other carriers.

The company is also in the first round of discussions with AT&T Inc and a Chinese company. Both of the companies are aiming to attract more operatives that do not operate in Brazil yet.

Meanwhile, representatives for Oi, AT&T, and the Brazilian unit of Telefonica refused to give a statement on the matter.

In Italy, a Telecom Italia spokesperson denied that “any negotiations are underway with Oi.”

However, new entrants would not have to deal with the same antitrust difficulties as companies already do in Brazil.

Brazilian antitrust regulator Cade and telecom regulator Anatel may possibly avoid the sale of Oi’s mobile network.

According to sources, the sale is from one or two carriers with operations in the country.