By Richard Mann
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Board of Directors of the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) approved the Telecommunications Networks Structural Plan (PERT). The goal is to expand broadband access in Brazil.
The plan includes a diagnosia of the country’s telecommunications infrastructure and provides projects to overcome shortcomings. Expansion of transmission networks, an extension of access networks and implementation of essential public networks are planned.
The proposal is to implement communication networks for essential public services such as education, research, health, public security, and defense.
“Brazil still needs to overcome the connectivity challenge and the only possible way is to develop its network infrastructure,” said the plan’s reporting councilor, Aníbal Diniz, in a statement published on Anatel’s website.
Through PERT, Anatel wants to encourage both public and private telecommunications sectors. In 2018, 3,542 municipalities were served by optical fiber, while the other 2,028 did not rely on this structure.
The plan proposes the expansion of fiber service and, in cities where it is not feasible, by high capacity satellite connections or other technologies.
The Structural Plan will be reviewed annually, considering the improvement in data collection and the gradual build-up of information.