Brazilian oil and gas giant Petróleo Brasileiro (Petrobras) is multiplying its private LTE operations across its offshore and onshore facilities, according to a report in Latin American business publication BNamericas. LTE networks have so far been deployed on 11 out of 29 offshore oil platforms belonging to Petrobras, and six of 17 various onshore facilities, it writes. Telefônica is named as the lead supplier; most equipment is from Nokia, the report states.
BNamericas says a seventh onshore facility is to be equipped and connected in short order. These 18 private LTE deployments are part of phase one of the state-owned company’s plan to connect all 46 sites to LTE, and eventually to 5G, by the end of 2024. The offshore platforms are located in the Campos and Santos basins, located off the southeastern coast of Brazil. The 17 land units include refineries, gas processing plants, warehouses, and ports.
Previously, Petrobras had worked with an unnamed system integrator to manage its own private LTE rollout, using a special industrial spectrum license, or limited service permit, from telecoms regulator Anatel. The integrator had deployed antennas from Chinese vendor Huawei. The project had extended to about 10 sites. Following a tender process, Telefônica Brasil signed a contract to supply private cellular to Petrobras in 2022, the article states.
Telefônica has “mostly” used LTE equipment from Finnish vendor Nokia, and “nearly” doubled in size to 18 sites in 2022. BNamericas quotes Maximiliam Vieira, in charge of ICT at Petrobras, who says the 2024 deadline could be accelerated and different vendors could be used. Telefônica has agreements with different vendors in different regions of Brazil. The networks use the 700MHz band, acquired by Telefônica Brasil in 2014, and the 1.8GHz band.
