TIM Brasil Brings 5G to Antarctica

TIM Brasil has extended its 5G network to one of the most remote and inhospitable locations on Earth: the Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Research Station. The deployment, which will use Nokia radio equipment and satellite backhaul through Starlink’s LEO constellation and Hispasat’s GEO satellites, makes Brazil the first Latin American country to activate commercial 5G on the continent. It builds on TIM’s initial 4G rollout in 2022 and underscoring the growing role of advanced connectivity in environmental research and operations.

Announced at the Italian Embassy in Brasília, the initiative comes alongside a new Memorandum of Understanding between TIM and the Brazilian Antarctic Program (PROANTAR), reinforcing long-term collaboration on scientific connectivity projects. Government leaders from multiple ministries attended the signing, emphasizing the national importance of Antarctic research in the context of accelerating climate change. The Brazilian Navy and the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) also signed the memorandum.

With the new 5G network, scientific measurements, from climate and environmental monitoring to telemetry, can now be transmitted in real time, accelerating research workflows and improving collaboration with institutions worldwide. Connectivity also has a critical safety function in Antarctica’s extreme conditions, and the mobile network acts as a complement to existing radio systems, extending communication across the station’s operational zones and reducing risk during field activities. TIM engineered its infrastructure specifically for the polar environment, incorporating heated and vibration-resistant antennas to prevent ice buildup and maintain signal stability. By the end of 2026, the network will expand to provide coverage across a 10 km radius.

SOURCE: TIM Brasil