‎Brazil News

The initiative to bring high-speed satellite internet to populations in a state of social vulnerability through the Wi-Fi Brasil program may count on new partners. A decree (https://www.in.gov.br/en/web/dou/-/portaria-mcom-n-2.460-de-23-de-abril-de-2021-315795564) permits that state and municipal agencies, entities, institutions and public or private companies participate.

 

Partners will participate in the installation of internet points in specific locations, such as public service units located in rural and remote areas, schools, libraries, telecenters, health units, quilombola communities, indigenous villages, rural settlements, cooperatives and non-profit organizations through which it is possible to expand digital inclusion and others. Partner institutions must indicate the locations benefited and the technical feasibility.

 

Currently, Wi-Fi Brasil has more than 13,300 points, serves more than 9,700 schools, more than 600 health units and 500 indigenous communities.

 

“With the new possibilities of resources for the program, we hope that these numbers will grow rapidly, which will further benefit Brazilians with access to this world of internet and its new possibilities for education, business, communication and entertainment”, he explained the Program Director, from the Executive Secretariat of the Ministry of Communications, José Afonso Cosmo.

 

Sources of funds

Before, Wi-Fi Brasil could only use resources from the Ministry of Communications' own budget, from the terms of decentralized execution of Federal Administration bodies and from parliamentary amendments. From the ordinance, the participation of public or private bodies and institutions will be possible through partnerships signed with the ministry.

 

“These partnerships with public or private entities will be established through technical cooperation agreements or a specific legal instrument, depending on the nature of this new partner”, detailed José Afonso Cosmo.

 

"All of them will have to observe the program's rules, especially regarding the installation locations, which must observe the locations where there is no connection or it is inadequate or insufficient", pondered the director.

 

Wi-Fi Brazil

Wi-Fi Brasil is a Federal Government program that offers free broadband internet connection via satellite and terrestrial. The focus is on bringing high-speed connectivity to locations in the country where there is no or little connection. The priority is to serve communities in a state of social vulnerability.

 

Developed by the Ministry of Communications, the initiative has a partnership with Telebras.