Ecuador’s state-owned operator Corporación Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (CNT) has launched the country’s first commercial 5G network in partnership with Nokia, marking a major milestone in Ecuador’s digital development.
Built on CNT’s existing 4G infrastructure, the 5G rollout includes 188 sites across Guayaquil - Ecuador’s largest city - and several other regions, operating in the N78 (3.5GHz) spectrum band.
The project was developed in coordination with the Ministry of Telecommunications and the Information Society, with plans to extend nationwide high-speed coverage by mid-2026.
According to Nokia, the new 5G network delivers speeds of up to 1.5Gbps, offering ten times the performance of 4G and significantly lower latency. The vendor said the upgrade will enable advanced applications such as virtual education, telemedicine, smart cities, connected mobility, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
CNT regional manager Ronald Spina said customers can expect faster and more stable connectivity without additional cost, while Bruno Leite, Nokia’s Head of Networks for Latin America, noted that the deployment supports the operator’s ambition to help the government build “a more connected Ecuador.”
Nokia will provide technology from its AirScale Radio Access Network portfolio, along with IP routing and optical transport solutions, to support the 5G rollout.
