Telecommunications company Millicom, whose operations in Latin America are branded as ‘Tigo’, has announced this last Thursday, July 8th, a USD 135 million investment over the next two / three years, with the aim of updating its mobile network in Bolivia, Honduras and Paraguay, in partnership with the Swedish multinational company Ericsson.
‘The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the digital wave and increased the demand for connectivity in the region, and Millicom needs to expand its ability to give an answer to this increase in traffic, while continuing to expand its reach in Latin America. This alliance with Ericsson will allow Millicom to achieve this, through the update of its networks with LTE, a 5G-ready technology, guaranteeing greater speed and a better experience for consumers’, they reported from the company regarding the initiative.
In addition, from Millicom they reported that the company will modernize its network with products and solutions from Ericsson Radio System. As part of the project, Ericsson will also replace Tigo’s core 4G package and implement Ericsson’s dual core 5G. Likewise, between Bolivia, Honduras and Paraguay, Tigo plans to expand the coverage of its network to 712 additional municipalities, reaching a total of 2.5 million more people.
‘Millicom has a strategy to achieve and keep the network leadership in all markets in which it operates. We want to offer the best mobile experience on the market and connect more people, both in urban and rural areas’, said Xavier Rocoplan, Executive Vice President, Director of Technology and Information at Millicom. ‘With this project, we advance towards our aim of building the best digital highways in the countries where we operate, to connect people, improve lives and support the development of our communities’, he added.
Arun Bansal, President for Europe and Latin America at Ericsson, has also expressed himself on the partnership with Tigo: ‘Ericsson is a leader in terms of 5G. With our focus on innovation, we are pleased to partner with Millicom and bring connectivity to Latin America as we chart the path to 5G deployment. Working together with such a leading communications provider, we strengthen our commitment to closing the digital divide globally. Although the pandemic has brought changes that go beyond the way we communicate, connectivity continues to be as key as ever’, he reported.