IHS Brazil has deployed 5G to the Nilton Santos Stadium (Engenhão) in Rio de Janeiro.

The company, a subsidiary of IHS Holding Limited (IHS Towers), completed the modernization of the Distributed Antenna System (DAS).

IHS has deployed 5G Massive MIMO antennas at the stadium, which is home to the Brazilian football club Botafogo Futebol Clube. The stadium has a capacity of just over 46,000.

IHS said it worked with the City Hall of Rio de Janeiro and Botafogo to deploy the upgrades.

According to IHS, the upgraded DAS has been designed to meet the maximum capacity of the stadium's public areas, including upper and lower stands, VIP areas, boxes, and pitch-side.

It's the first DAS communication upgrades carried out at the stadium since 2016, during which the stadium was used for the 2016 Olympic Games. Back then, 3G and 4G connectivity services were deployed.

Following the recent upgrades, IHS Brazil noted that it now holds exclusive rights for the stadium’s mobile connectivity infrastructure.

"With the implementation of the new antenna system, we aim to optimize the operations of mobile operators and transform the fan experience," said Alexandre Costa, general director of infrastructure and operations, Botafogo SAF.

"The modernization will not only broaden connectivity but also help us position the stadium as a center for innovation in sports, ensuring congestion-free connectivity for all."

IHS Towers owns more than 39,000 towers across its eight markets, including Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zambia.

The deployment of 5G services and network upgrades at sporting stadia has increased this year, notably in the UK earlier this year, as Virgin Media O2 deployed 5G at Twickenham Stadium in February.