Brazil’s TIM reaches milestones for 4G, 5G and rural coverage

Brazilian telecom operator TIM reported having achieved key milestones related to its 4G and 5G coverage, as well as to rural connectivity.

The country’s third largest mobile carrier, TIM became the first to cover all 5,570 municipalities with 4G, that is, having at least one antenna in each location.

TIM also reported having installed 5G in more than 200 localities.

The list of recent activations includes 23 municipalities in Bahia, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and São Paulo states.

According to an Anatel database, TIM leads 5G deployment with 7,742 antennas in place, representing nearly half of Brazil’s total.

Overall, Anatel reports 17,835 5G antennas in the country, with Vivo (Telefônica Brasil) and Claro trailing TIM with 5,986 and 3,627 antennas, respectively. Next comes Brisanet (316), Algar (161), Unifique (2) and Ligga (1).

Unlike other telcos, TIM said it has focused on covering as many neighborhoods in major urban centers like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro as possible with 5G. Vivo and Claro, in turn, would be expanding coverage gradually.

All operators, however, exceed Anatel obligations for this stage of 5G deployment, both in terms of number of antennas installed and localities served.

MONETIZATION

Neither TIM nor its competitors have yet monetized 5G. 

At TIM, clients need only a 5G-compatible smartphone to use the network, without having to purchase a package or migrate to a new plan. 

According to TIM, almost 90% of the smartphones currently available through its sales channels are 5G-compatible.

Speaking to BNamericas during the telco’s year-end press event in Rio de Janeiro, CTIO Leonardo Capdeville downplayed the issue, saying first comes the expansion of the network and the massification of the user experience.

Only afterwards would users be comfortable contracting new 5G services, such as packages for cloud gaming.

Capdeville has just been appointed to lead the technology area at the company’s parent in Italy.

RURAL COVERAGE

Leading in connected agriculture, TIM expects to end 2023 with 16Mha covered with 4G in Brazil, 2Mha more than 2022.

The expectation for 2024 is to grow the coverage by another 4Mha, reaching 20Mha in total.

The company claims to have signed contracts with more than 30 large Brazilian agribusiness groups, and to serve around 112,000 rural properties. 

This coverage ends up extending to neighboring areas, covering also 265 public schools and 80 basic health units. The 4G TIM no Campo project is active in 676 municipalities in 14 states, according to the carrier.

Despite leading in 5G coverage and having the second largest 4G deployment, neck and neck with Vivo, TIM ended October with 24.1% of Brazil’s mobile accesses, third after Vivo and Claro.