Brazil expands 5G network, but still has 20% without internet, says minister

With almost 20% of the Brazilian population still without internet access, the Ministry of Communications is facing a big challenge to provide connectivity to all.

Despite the 5G technology’s advance, digital inclusion has not even happened in some places.

This situation was quite questioned in a joint public hearing of the Infrastructure (CI) and Science, Technology, Innovation, Communication, and Computers (CCT) commissions which, on Tuesday (23), heard the minister of the portfolio, Juscelino Filho.

The manager ratified the concern that there are many challenges to moving forward and bringing digital inclusion to the still unconnected citizens.

“We understand that the moment we take this digital inclusion to these Brazilians, we are taking along social inclusion, better public services, better opportunities for them to be inserted in our society,” said Juscelino Filho.

President of the CI, Senator Confúcio Moura (MDB-RO), highlighted that the Ministry of Communications has always been one of the most important portfolios, even more so now because of the expansion of telecommunications services.

5G

According to Juscelino Filho, the 5G expansion (started in 2022) has been happening as planned, but “it is a technology that needs a lot of infrastructure and investment”.

“The ministry has been working for operators to anticipate and deliver it faster. At the same time, [it is working to] advance 4G in communities without coverage,” explained the minister.

According to the Minister of Communications, 92.36% of residents in the country have 4G technology.

Meanwhile, 5G technology serves 38.5% of residents in 106 cities, including all capitals.

Among the main commitments of the 5G auction (to be reached by 2029) are:

• the offer of this technology in all Brazilian municipalities; the offer of 4G in 35,000 kilometers of federal highways, connecting the communities that border these highways;
• the allocation of R$3.1 billion for public school connectivity;
• R$1.3 billion for the Connected North;
• and R$1 billion for a private and secure government network.

Senators Weverton (PDT-MA) and Alan Rick (União-AC) emphasized that despite the 5G expansion (which covers a low number of municipalities already served but with a large number of people concentrated), there must be a concern with the country’s interior, where many people still do not have Internet access.

“The federal government must put resources into reaching poor communities so we can truly work with digital inclusion,” Weverton explained.

CONNECTIVITY

The ministry works with the proposal of meaningful and universal connectivity, which is “key for the true digital transformation of our country”, according to Juscelino Filho.

Of the 20% of Brazilians who don’t access the internet, 60% don’t do it for lack of interest or need and for not knowing how to use it.

The cell phone is the main device accessed, used in 99.5% of the homes with network coverage. At least 60% of the elderly access the web.

“The more universal the use, the more significant the connectivity will be. And meaningful connectivity is the internet that improves people’s lives,” said Juscelino Filho.

About 81% of Brazilians over the age of ten access the web.

The time spent on the internet daily in Brazil is, on average, 9 hours and 15 minutes, the second highest in the world.

The country is second only to South Africa.

SERVICE COVERAGE

One of the ministry’s concerns is to expand service coverage, including to rural and remote regions and areas such as education and health.

Senator Professor Dorinha Seabra (União-TO) reaffirmed that the pandemic had revealed the serious education situation since data from the ministry shows that 91% of schools do not have adequate speed.

At least 8,365 public schools are completely disconnected.

In 138,355 elementary schools, only 10,407 (7.5%) have an adequate connection of 1 Mbps per student, and 66,726 (48.2%) have Wi-Fi.

In the health area, of the 57,425 Basic Health Units (BHU), including indigenous health, 8,097 have no connectivity at all, and 15,784 need connectivity with greater speed.

According to Minister Juscelino Filho, the proposal is to take advantage of the expansion of optical fiber networks to schools and connect UBS.

Senator Efraim Filho (União-PB) pointed out that, besides education and health, it is necessary to look at other sectors, such as public security.

Today, communications between the public security authorities, between the states, and within the states do not talk to each other, according to the senator.

“The ministry can make this work being done for education and health reach this theme as well,” said Efraim Filho.

To Senator Chico Rodrigues (PSB-RR), the minister affirmed that the small internet providers have a significant representation and responsibility to bring connectivity to millions of people.

“They are in places with no interest from the big operators,” said Juscelino Filho.

The minister also presented ongoing programs, such as:

• Internet Brazil, which provides chip distribution;
• the Fund for Universalization of Telecommunication Services (Fust), which has, as one of its guidelines, the reduction of regional inequalities and for which about R$2 billion will be allocated in three modalities;
• the Computers for Inclusion Program, with 13 centers for computer reconditioning;
• Wi-Fi Brazil,
• Connected North,
• Connected Northeast,
• and Connected Cities, among others.

BROADCASTING

Regarding broadcasting, between January and May, 4,475 granting, post-granting, and inspection processes were analyzed.

According to the minister, the backlog of processes was reduced to 1,800, and the bids still pending analysis were reduced to 230.

For the massification of digital TV, there is the Digitalize Brazil Program. Of the more than 1,350 cities with the infrastructure already in place, 925 already have the signal working.

According to the minister, a novelty is TV 3.0, which covers a new generation of digital TV that is arriving with 4k and 8k images, immersive sound in 3D, HDR support, and connectivity with broadcast TV.

“A forum will define which technology we will use in our country, and once it is finalized, we will start the implementation.

With information from Agência Senado

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