World Cup connectivity: "We're doing the best we can", says TIM

With close to a month to the World Cup kicking off, Brazilian telecoms operators are running against the clock to set up all connectivity infrastructure inside the stadiums that will host the matches.

"We still have problems with some airports and stadiums, but which did not rely on operators anymore," TIM Brasil CEO Rodrigo Abreu said. "We are doing the best we can."

Speaking at a conference on the company's quarterly results, Abreu highlighted the "massive joint effort" conducted by all operators to properly connect stadiums and airports.

The delay in the construction of some of the arenas and the negotiations with stadium administrators are seen the main hindrances. In at least two of the facilities, in São Paulo and Curitiba, for example, operators were granted access only a few weeks ago.

Telcos association Sinditelebrasil had already warned about these two stadiums in a March report.

Abreu had stressed in December that operators needed 150 days to install the infrastructure for mobile telephony coverage.

To offset the deployment problems, which also affect some airports, TIM is strengthening the capacity of outdoor antennas in the proximity of the facilities and preparing the use of temporary mobile stations.

Abreu added that in the stadiums where it was possible to install Wi-Fi infrastructure in addition to the mobile network, such as Rio's Maracanã, the performance of services improved considerably.

According to him, tests in recent matches showed that as much as 30% of the traffic in the mobile network can be offloaded by the Wi-Fi networks.

"We will have the best possible service in the conditions we're facing. This is not only TIM's concern, but for all the sector," Abreu said.