Eletronet Modernizes Optical Backbone with NEC and Nokia to Boost Brazilian Connectivity
Brazilian telecom and IT infrastructure provider Eletronet has partnered with NEC Corporation and Nokia to modernize its optical backbone network, significantly expanding its reach and capacity across the country. The project, representing an investment of BRL 157 million (USD 30.4 million), will add 8,000 kilometers of latest fiber routes, bringing the total network length to 25,000 kilometers and covering all 23 Brazilian states by the end of 2026. NEC
Expanding Brazil’s Digital Infrastructure
The modernization effort aims to reinforce Eletronet’s position as a neutral connectivity hub, providing robust infrastructure for Internet Service Providers (ISPs), telecom operators, submarine cable operators, data centers and hyperscalers. The upgrade will utilize Nokia’s 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS) and 1830 Global Express (GX) platforms, enhancing network reliability and stability. This will enable data transmission speeds of up to 1.2 Tb/s per optical channel, ensuring higher quality data transport.
Key Technological Advancements
NEC will lead the project integration, coordinating work and equipment deployment. The network will leverage Reconfigurable Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) technology and a flexible optical grid, embedded within Nokia’s solutions. ROADM functions as an “intelligent traffic system,” enabling remote reconfiguration, new route activation, and traffic rerouting, accelerating service deployment and improving overall stability. The flexible optical grid allows Eletronet to transport more data over existing fiber, increasing capacity without the need for new installations.
Expanding Edge Data Center Capacity
The project includes the creation of 85 new Edge Data Centers, bringing Eletronet’s total to 255 nationwide. These data centers will support low-latency applications, crucial for emerging technologies and services. The infrastructure utilizes OPGW fiber optic cables installed on power transmission lines, providing high resilience and availability.
Industry Perspectives
“We are living in a moment of rapidly growing data traffic, driven by cloud applications, intensive use of Artificial Intelligence, and the continuous increase in connected devices,” stated Rogério Garchet, CEO of Eletronet. “This scenario demands increasingly robust networks to keep pace with the digital economy. The modernization of our backbone directly addresses this need, ensuring that Internet Service Providers (ISPs), telecom operators and submarine cable operators, data centers, and hyperscalers have an infrastructure ready to support the country’s growth.”
Rafael Mezzasalma, Nokia Director for Brazil, emphasized the project’s importance for Brazil, stating that Nokia’s solutions will reinforce the infrastructure needed to support growing demand for low-latency connectivity, increased capacity, and distributed processing.
Masayuki Kayahara, Corporate SVP, Global Network Division, NEC Corporation, expressed NEC’s commitment to building a robust optical foundation worldwide that fuels business growth and delivers positive social impact.