Brazilian operator Oi has agreed terms for a R$5.4bn (US$2.7bn) loan from Bndes, the country’s development bank.
The debt is specifically for investing in Oi’s network infrastructure to expand and improve its broadband, mobile, fixed-line and cable…
Brazilian operator Oi has agreed terms for a R$5.4bn (US$2.7bn) loan from Bndes, the country’s development bank.
The debt is specifically for investing in Oi’s network infrastructure to expand and improve its broadband, mobile, fixed-line and cable TV services.
Part of the investment will be used to introduce 3G to new towns and deploy LTE in major cities.
Oi acquired 4G frequencies last summer in Brazil’s tender for LTE licences. It spent R$330.8m (US$160.3) on a total of 20MHz of licences in the 2.5GHz band.
The local regulator, Anatel, attached conditions to the licences including strict build out obligations and commitments to buy network equipment from domestic suppliers.
The country’s government is looking to have 4G technology covering all the major centres hosting the 2014 World Cup by December 2013, as well as Brazilian municipalities with populations of over 100,000 people by December 2016.
