By increasing access to high-speed internet, Viasat and Telebras have accelerated social and digital inclusion in Brazil. Thanks to the government’s Wi-Fi Brasil program, Web entry factors are now available in 3,055 cities across the country. The project also enables individuals living in remote areas to receive Internet service without the need for expensive equipment or long distance connections.

Viasat

Viasat is the largest satellite internet service provider in Brazil. It offers a full suite of services that improve broadband internet access and minimize the digital divide in this country. Its service is available throughout the country, with 33% of its clients located in the Northeast, 25% in the North, and 20% in the Southeast. Clients of Viasat’s satellite internet service use it to access social networks, access video streaming services, and shop online.

In addition to connecting government agencies and millions of students throughout the country, Viasat’s satellite Internet has been installed in more than 20,000 public and private institutions, including rural schools, indigenous communities, health posts, and service facilities. These internet access points are now available in 3,055 cities and are proving to be an essential step toward ensuring digital inclusion in Brazil. In the coming years, the Brazilian satellite Internet service will also be expanded to the northeast region of the country.

Telebras

In Brazil, Viasat’s Satellite Internet helps bridge the digital divide by connecting more than 50,000 remote locations to high-speed internet. The satellite-based broadband service has become the first ISP to provide residential connectivity in the entire country. Viasat’s satellites can reach rural areas, which can benefit both the economy and society. In addition to connecting rural areas, Viasat is bringing digital inclusion to more than nine million Brazilian citizens, including schools, government buildings, and non-profit organizations.

In addition to expanding its reach, Viasat is working to build a sustainable global business. For example, the company is installing satellite dishes in Mexico, which will enable it to extend its network to 1.5 million people in the country. Viasat and Telebras are also partnering in Brazil, where they have already installed satellite broadband ground equipment in four thousand hard-to-reach locations. In Brazil, Viasat has received regulatory approval to provide Community Wi-Fi in towns with low or no Internet access. The two companies plan to expand Community Wi-Fi service to other regions of Brazil later this year.

Wi-Fi Brasil

Small operators have a unique role to play in bringing the benefits of Internet connectivity to under-resourced communities. These companies can engage in public consultations and bring local knowledge, expertise, and best practice to the Internet connectivity equation. Viasat has partnered with these small operators to extend Internet access to millions of Brazilian citizens and reduce their digital gap. The company has successfully installed more than a million sites, and plans to install tens of thousands of others in the next two years.

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The OECD Telecommunication and Broadcasting Review of Brazil 2020 shows that the country has some room for improvement, but the digital divide is still huge. The OECD recommends that Brazil overhaul its tax and fee regime to ensure that it catches up to advanced economies. While many of these measures will increase digital inclusion in Brazil, more is needed to reduce the digital divide and enable the nation to embrace digital technologies. By speeding up these changes, it is possible to accelerate the country’s recovery.

HughesNet

With millions of people able to connect to the internet, Viasat’s satellite internet services help close the digital divide in Brazil. The company has connected government agencies and academic institutions, as well as thousands of rural and indigenous schools. There are currently over 20,000 points of Internet access throughout Brazil, with more than ten thousand of them located in rural schools. This technology allows 5 million rural schoolchildren to take advantage of internet access, while improving social inclusion for nine million Brazilians. Viasat and Telebras have also installed Internet access points in 3055 cities in Brazil, allowing more than a half million people to get online.

Viasat has also brought satellite Internet hotspots to Mexico, and now it wants to do the same in Brazil. In February, Viasat will launch a pilot program called Community Wi-Fi in Sao Paulo that offers free satellite powered Wi-Fi in 20 Brazilian towns. This pilot program will test demand and eventually expand to the northeast region of the country later this year. Viasat’s satellite internet service is helping reduce Brazil’s digital gap by making it accessible in rural areas and promoting economic opportunities.