As part of the agreement, the companies will set up an LTE IoT lab in Rio de Janeiro, create a working group to study services and opportunities as well as test innovative services and develop joint projects.
The joint lab – focussed on IoT using LTE – will be the first of its kind in Latin America, according to both companies. Expected to open in the first quarter of 2016, the lab will be aimed at bringing advanced cellular IoT solutions to the market, including LTE technologies for M2M communications.
The investments in innovation will be supported by a Brazilian government fund that will finance projects in IoT verticals such as agribusiness, connected cars, homes, smart cities and e-health.
"Oi is focused on driving innovative solutions to meet the needs of our customers in the fast-changing communications market. The new IoT lab in cooperation with Nokia Networks will allow us to come up with new technology ideas and place Brasil on the global map in terms of IoT development,” said Pedro Falcao, head of network technology and systems at Oi Brasil.
In addition, the companies will promote knowledge sharing and joint research with universities and local R&D institutes to push the development of an open IoT industry.
Dimitri Diliani, head of Latin America Market at Nokia Networks, said: "Nokia Networks foresees a programmable world of more than 50 billion connected things by 2025. From cars, home appliances and smartphones to industrial equipment and health monitors, devices will be combined in extraordinary ways to improve lives and create boundless possibilities for people and businesses. Through our collaboration with Oi Brasil, we will develop solutions and mobile technology to capture the exciting new opportunities."
