This article was created based on an interview with Renato Bueno, Head of Enterprise, Latin America at Nokia
Nokia’s Private Wireless Brings Connectivity to Brazil’s Remote Mining
In the vast expanse of Mato Grosso, Brazil—where only a small percentage of the territory has access to 4G or 5G—Nokia’s deployment with Salinas Gold stands out as a model for remote industrial connectivity. The project combines private wireless technology, local integration, and ecosystem collaboration to meet the challenges of unserved geographies.
For Nokia, this wasn’t just another network deployment. It was a proof point in how combining advanced infrastructure with the right local partners can deliver rapid, resilient digital transformation. The initiative brought together Nokia’s private wireless solutions, Venco’s system integration capabilities, and Ávato’s regional fiber expertise—demonstrating a full ecosystem model tailored to industrial needs.
Using 700 MHz Private LTE to Power Remote Industrial Operations
The connectivity gap in Mato Grosso posed a fundamental problem: with less than a quarter of the state connected, Salinas Gold needed more than just an off-the-shelf solution. Nokia’s use of the 700 MHz band for private LTE provided the coverage and performance required for reliable, high-capacity operations in this remote mining environment.
The project prioritized rapid deployment, with the full network operational in under 50 days. It also ensured operational simplicity, reducing the burden of maintenance in areas far from major infrastructure hubs. This low-complexity, high-trust model allowed Salinas Gold to shift focus from basic connectivity to productivity and efficiency gains.
Partner Ecosystem Enables Fast, Sustainable Network Deployment
The success of this deployment hinged on strong collaboration. Venco played the role of end-to-end integrator, aligning technical components from multiple partners into a cohesive system. Meanwhile, Ávato delivered local infrastructure, including fiber and field resources—critical assets in a country where more than half of the fiber footprint is delivered by regional ISPs.
This ecosystem model made it possible to address both the short-term goal of fast deployment and the long-term objective of sustainable operations. By leveraging regional knowledge and infrastructure, the project avoided the logistical delays that often plague remote deployments and instead demonstrated how ecosystem coordination can drive scalable impact.
Future-Proof Network Design with Edge and IoT Readiness
Nokia’s network design also looks ahead. With a fiber-based backbone and edge computing architecture, the solution ensures operational continuity even in the event of upstream network failure. This local processing capability enables advanced use cases like real-time analytics and automation—without requiring centralized cloud dependencies.
The network’s 4G core is also built for seamless evolution. Adding a 5G layer or expanding coverage is straightforward, whether through additional sectors or new site deployments. It’s also ready for IoT applications, including NB-IoT and CAT-M1, unlocking further use cases in machine monitoring and field control.
Importantly, the regulatory environment in Brazil has supported this evolution. Anatel’s move to allocate private spectrum for industries like mining and manufacturing has been instrumental in enabling companies like Salinas Gold to take ownership of their connectivity strategy.
Nokia Scales Private Networks Across Latin America’s Industrial Sectors
While mining remains the most active vertical for private networks in Latin America, Nokia is seeing growing adoption across sectors like ports, manufacturing, agribusiness, and utilities. Projects have ranged from large-scale deployments in Chile and Brazil to connected farming initiatives in the same Mato Grosso region where Salinas Gold operates.
In agribusiness, collaboration with organizations like ConectaAgro is enabling millions of hectares to come online, combining the efforts of telecom vendors, industrial application developers, universities, and cloud providers. Meanwhile, the utility sector is leveraging dedicated spectrum to enhance field automation and operational efficiency.
This momentum reflects a broader shift across Latin America. Industrial players are no longer just exploring private wireless—they are implementing it to solve real-world problems, from process automation to workforce safety and energy efficiency.
How Nokia’s Private Wireless is Redefining Remote Industrial Connectivity
Nokia’s work with Salinas Gold showcases the potential of private wireless in solving real connectivity challenges for remote, industrial environments. By combining spectrum innovation, edge-ready architecture, and local ecosystem partnerships, the project created a sustainable blueprint for digital transformation in some of the hardest-to-reach places in Latin America.
As private networks continue to gain ground across mining, energy, agriculture, and manufacturing, Nokia’s strategy in the region demonstrates that transformation isn’t just about technology—it’s about collaboration, scale, and long-term usability.
