Claro Chile launches Chile’s first LTE network

Claro Chile, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the America Movil group, has become the first operator to launch commercial LTE services in Chile.

Claro Chile as opted for Nokia Siemens Networks as the sole supplier for LTE network. NSN has provided radio, core network and services for the operator's new 4G network, the first of its kind in the country. With the new 4G network, Claro Chile's customers will soon have access to a host of advanced services.

"Our customers can now look forward to super-fast mobile broadband that will offer them a significantly superior service experience," said Gerardo Munoz, chief executive officer at Claro Chile.

We have complete faith in Nokia Siemens Networks' expertise as well as in their commitment to help us deliver world class communication services quickly so that we can satisfy our customers added Munoz.

Under the contract, Nokia Siemens Networks provided an LTE radio access network featuring its award-winning and high-capacity Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Stations. The Flexi Multiradio Base Station is a Single RAN (radio access network) base station for GSM, 3G, and LTE. It facilitates an easy and cost-effective site upgrade to LTE using Nokia Siemens Networks' NetAct management system to ensure consolidated configuration, monitoring and network optimization for Claro Chile's radio and core network, including iSON automation.

To complete the LTE network, the company also deployed its Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network to help the operator deal with the unprecedented increase in data traffic over its network.

Nokia Siemens Networks' Global Services enable operators to move safely towards LTE with the highest quality possible. For Claro Chile, Global Services is providing network planning and optimization services, as well as operational services for process alignment, support and engineering. With the help of these, the LTE implementation for Claro Chile was accomplished in record time, in accordance with the rules set by Subtel, the Chilean telecom regulator.The contract also includes care hardware and competence development services.

"This deal is a strong testimony to the excellent relationship we've had with Claro Chile since 2005," said Raul Romero, head of customer business team, America Movil, at Nokia Siemens Networks.

We are proud to be associated with this important project that marks the debut of commercial 4G services in Chile - a landmark accomplishment in one of the most advanced communications markets in Latin America commented Romero.

Having laid the foundation of this initiative with joint LTE trials in November 2012, Nokia Siemens Networks and Claro Chile conducted the first 4G-LTE call on the operator's network in March this year. This was an important precursor to the formal introduction of commercial LTE services in the country.