This is a machine translation of TIM’s press release
Rio de Janeiro, January 23, 2022 – With the aim of increasing the scope of mobile connectivity and bringing 4G coverage to the most remote locations in the country, TIM signed an unprecedented agreement of intentions (Memorandum of Understanding – MoU) with AST SpaceMobile. The US company is responsible for building the first and only mobile broadband network based in space and directly accessible by cell phones.
The proposal, a first in Brazil, will allow the operator to test AST SpaceMobile’s space-based technology to provide 4G data and voice services in Brazil. The network will allow connectivity to consumers with different mobile devices in almost the entire national territory, connecting smartphones directly to the AST SpaceMobile satellite network in low Earth orbit.
AST SpaceMobile’s solution is being designed to enable mobile devices online where coverage with cell towers does not exist and without requiring any changes to the user’s cellular device, including software, hardware or expensive add-ons, including satellite dishes. The expectation is that the first technical tests will be carried out by TIM in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil in the first half of 2023. In the same period, the first evaluations of the solution planned by AST Space Mobile should take place. The entire process is subject to a variety of factors, including obtaining regulatory approval.
“TIM, the only operator to serve all municipalities in Brazil with mobile coverage, reinforces its commitment to expand its coverage area and improve the quality of communication so that customers can enjoy data and voice services anywhere in the country. The agreement with AST SpaceMobile complements important ongoing initiatives to promote more digital inclusion, as it will allow TIM to take 4G to isolated areas, districts, villages, roads, resorts and tourist spots that today are not served by other operators”, explains Marco Di Costanzo, Director of Network Development at TIM Brasil.
More connectivity – The connection of common cell phones through the planned satellites of AST SpaceMobile complements other pioneering solutions adopted by TIM to democratize access to connectivity. Off-grid sites take the fourth generation network to places that are difficult to access and without available electricity, with the installation of towers and antennas with simplified infrastructure, powered by solar panels, with low environmental impact and lower cost. There are already more than 1,300 Sky Coverage project sites spread across Brazil.
About TIM
“Evolve together with courage, transforming technology into freedom” is TIM’s purpose. The operator has the largest mobile coverage and 4G presence in Brazil and is leading the rollout of 5G in the country, in line with its leading attitude and signature: “Imagine the possibilities”. Committed to the best environmental, social and governance practices, it is part of important portfolios on the Brazilian stock exchange, such as the Novo Mercado, S&P/B3 Brasil ESG and the Corporate Sustainability Index. It is listed in the Sustainability Yearbook 2022, which brings together the most sustainable companies in the world, and was the first operator to obtain ISO 37001 certification for combating bribery. It is also part of the Bloomberg Gender Equity Index and leads, among companies in Brazil and in the global telecom sector, the Refinitiv Diversity & Inclusion Index. For more information, visit www.tim.com.br.