Brazil's TIM to debut FTTH service in Q3, looks to expand wireless backhaul network

TIM Brasil is on track to launch its Fiber to the Home (FTTH) residential broadband service TIM Fiber in the third quarter of 2012.

During its first-quarter earnings call, TIM Brasil CEO Luca Luciani said the company will provide the service initially in São Paulo, with Rio de Janeiro not far after.

To date, TIM has connected 1,100 buildings out what it calls a total of 3,600 "authorizations" it has established in the two cities.

Thus far, Luciani said tests of the FTTH technology "look promising," and that the company wants to deliver Internet access speeds of 50-100 Mbps.

In parallel with the FTTH buildout, TIM Brasil is increasing its wireless backhaul capacity in H1 2012, a process that will integrate its wireless network infrastructure with fiber, as it prepares its wireless network to support 4G wireless services.

Thus far, the provider has connected 1,030 of its wireless antennas to its fiber network in both São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The company said it's on track to connect 1,777 antennas in both cities by the end of 2012.

In preparation for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Brazil soccer event, Luciani said that the service provider will increase backhaul capacity in 12 cities and an additional 40 cities by 2014.

For more:
- TeleGeography has this article

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