Featured image credit: Valentin Rodriguez on Unsplash
Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã has become the first stadium in Brazil to be fitted with 5G technology through a partnership with telecommunications company TIM Brasil.
TIM fitted 17 5G antennas at the stadium ahead of the Copa do Brasil final at the Maracanã yesterday (Wednesday).
As part of the agreement, TIM will benefit from brand exposure on benches, big screens and LED panels at the Maracanã. It is hoped the roll-out of 5G technology at the stadium will enable fans to stay better connected during matches and other events.
Guests without a 5G smartphone are expected to see an improvement in their 4G reception as part of the agreement between TIM and the Maracanã. Initially, the 5G technology will only be available to TIM customers.
TIM Brasil chief executive Alberto Griselli said: “We are protagonists in the implementation of 5G in Brazil and we are attentive to all the possibilities of experiences that customers can have access to, such as full connection in large agglomerations. It was precisely for this reason that we invested to deliver consistent coverage in all capitals in the very first moments of the new technology.”
Griselli added: “Our goal is to enhance the fan experience in a scenario of intense connectivity, also facilitating the work of those who work in the stadium, such as the press, for example. 5G opens up a world of possibilities, and TIM is ready to bring people closer to this new reality.”
In July, the Rio de Janeiro State Government launched a tender process seeking a new operator for the Maracanã.
The Government is seeking a concession agreement for the “economic exploration, management, operation and maintenance of the Maracanã Complex”. This includes both the iconic stadium and the adjacent Maracanãzinho arena.
The Government, which owns the Complex, is seeking to strike a 20-year contract with the winning bidder due to be announced on October 27. The licensee is required to organise at least 70 football games a year at the Maracanã, plus a further 12 events at Maracanãzinho.
Flamengo is currently the main tenant of the Maracanã, alongside fellow Campeonato Brasileiro Série A football club Fluminense. Indeed, the two clubs have also served to manage the stadium since April 2019 after they agreed what was then an initial six-month deal for the Maracanã Complex.
Share this