Nokia has announced a major expansion of its partnership with TIM Brasil to modernize the operator’s 5G network infrastructure across key regions, covering nearly 42 percent of Brazil’s population.
Following TIM Brasil’s recent investments in Sao Paulo, the telecom operator will extend its network modernization program to 14 additional states across four regions, strengthening its national 5G footprint and accelerating enterprise-focused AI connectivity services, Nokia said at the Mobile World Congress (MWC 2026).
The expanded agreement aims to enhance network performance, boost operational efficiency, and improve customer experience while reducing environmental impact. By embedding advanced automation and AI capabilities into its 5G infrastructure, TIM Brasil is positioning itself to deliver next-generation AI-based connectivity solutions for enterprises and industry verticals.
AI-RAN Ready 5G Infrastructure
Under the agreement, Nokia will deploy its latest energy-efficient and AI-RAN-ready AirScale portfolio. This includes Habrok Massive MIMO radios, Pandion Remote Radio Heads, and AirScale small cell solutions, along with end-to-end deployment, optimization, and support services. These solutions are designed to provide seamless indoor and outdoor coverage, improved scalability, and reduced energy consumption, supporting TIM Brasil’s sustainability goals.
The modernization program will impact major cities such as Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Goiânia, Manaus, Belém, and São Luís, among others. Customers in these regions will benefit from faster speeds, improved reliability, and enhanced 5G performance.
Automation with MantaRay SON
TIM Brasil will also implement Nokia’s MantaRay Self-Organizing Network solution to automate routine operations and improve overall network quality. By leveraging AI and advanced analytics, MantaRay SON helps manage the growing complexity of 5G deployments while reducing operational costs. The automation platform enables real-time optimization, ensuring consistent service quality and superior user experience.
Preparing for 5G Advanced and 6G
The upgraded infrastructure will prepare TIM Brasil for future network evolution, including 5G Advanced and 6G technologies. The modernization initiative strengthens the architectural foundation required to support AI-native workloads, deterministic performance requirements, and emerging enterprise applications.
Nokia’s AI-RAN solution, developed in collaboration with NVIDIA, extends beyond GPU-accelerated RAN functions to enable advanced AI use cases such as intelligent network slicing, image and video analysis, voice recognition, and threat detection. This will enhance TIM Brasil’s B2B portfolio across industries including mining, agribusiness, manufacturing, logistics, and transportation.
Driving Brazil’s Digital Transformation
Alberto Griselli, CEO of TIM Brasil, said the expanded partnership raises the bar for 5G in Brazil by delivering a more automated and efficient network capable of supporting innovative services. He emphasized that the initiative will enhance customer experience while creating greater value for enterprises seeking productivity-driven digital solutions.
Justin Hotard, President and CEO of Nokia, highlighted that as AI reshapes network traffic patterns and performance expectations, telecom infrastructure must evolve to become AI-native. He noted that the strengthened collaboration will embed automation and intelligence at scale, enabling resilient, software-driven networks that support Brazil’s AI-powered growth.
Ronnie Vasishta, Senior Vice President of Telecommunications at NVIDIA, added that AI has become critical infrastructure across industries, and the collaboration on AI-RAN and Edge AI applications represents a key milestone in transforming telecom networks into AI-ready platforms.