NuCel, a mobile telephony service provided by Nubank, was designed to simplify call and internet package management directly through the bank's application. Its operation is based on the MVNO model, acting as a virtual operator that relies on third-party infrastructure to ensure connectivity for its users.
The company established a strategic collaboration with Claro, utilizing the signal and wide coverage of this major operator to provide 4G and 5G signals throughout the national territory. To check service availability in a specific area, customers must access the official coverage map on the partner operator's website and enter their address or region.
By operating as a virtual operator, NuCel uses Claro's antenna and signal infrastructure to provide 4G and 5G connections. Thus, subscribers benefit from the same stability and coverage already established by the partner across the country.
The MVNO model adopted by NuCel allows it to offer telephony services without needing to invest in building its own antennas, allowing the company to focus efforts on customer service. By leasing Claro's consolidated network, the company guarantees immediate access to quality signal throughout the country, eliminating the cost of erecting transmission towers.
Since NuCel's network uses Claro's antennas, checking NuCel coverage must be done through the official tools of the originating operator. This procedure is quick and allows for an exact confirmation of 4G and 5G signal quality in any location before contracting the service.
To perform the check, you need to use a computer or mobile browser to access cobertura.claro.com.br and open the real-time checking tool. The user must type their ZIP code or full address in the search field at the top of the page and click 'Search' to direct the map. Then, they must select the 4G or 5G network options in the top menu to view the specific availability of the signal type in their location.
It is recommended to adjust the map zoom and consult the legend in the 'Coverage Area' section to identify the intensity and stability of the antenna in the analyzed region. Both NuCel and Claro offer contracts with the same theoretical maximum download and upload rates, as they share the same infrastructure. The limits defined for the speed ceiling on 4G Max networks (up to 5 Mbps / 512 Kbps) and 5G (up to 10 Mbps / 1 Mbps) are identical for customers of both brands.
However, in practice, NuCel may show small variations in the estimated 4G Max speed compared to the partner operator. This difference arises due to network traffic management, although the shared transmission signal ensures an equivalent browsing experience in daily life.
Since NuCel exclusively uses the Claro network, the customer is restricted to the partner's signal and cannot manually switch to TIM or Vivo in the settings. This limitation stems from the agreement signed by the virtual operator, which stipulates the restricted use of the contracted company's antennas and transmission infrastructure.
If it is necessary to use other operators' signals in areas with coverage failures, the user has two options: porting NuCel's number to TIM or Vivo, or activating a second eSIM or physical SIM card on the device, keeping two lines active on different networks to alternate mobile data as needed.
As a virtual operator, NuCel has complete regulatory freedom to change its partner in the future or sign new infrastructure agreements. If such a transition occurs, the migration will be carried out discreetly behind the scenes, without the customer losing their number, their contracted plan, or the support offered by Nubank. This change may only affect coverage and signal stability, depending on the antennas of the new network used by NuCel, requiring, at most, a remote update of the device's mobile data settings or the replacement of the physical SIM and eSIM.