Companies can now register to participate in the Internet for All

 

On January 8, 2018, the deadline for the accreditation of companies interested in participating in the Internet for All program began. For this, you must send a document with the request to the Telecommunications Secretariat (Setel) of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications (MCTIC).
 
The Internet for All program connections will be made through the Geostationary Defense and Strategic Communications Satellite (SGDC), in orbit since May 2017 and with an expected lifespan of 18 years.
 
“At any time, the interested company can send a letter to enter the program. In principle, Telebras, a partner in the program, must present its accreditation so that we can start serving these locations, but any other company can be accredited”, explained the director of Digital Inclusion at MCTIC, Américo Bernardes.
 
In addition to the Tax on Services (ISS), the operations will be exempt from the Tax on the Circulation of Goods and Services (ICMS) and will have local infrastructure. Bernardes explains that Internet for All will not offer the service free of charge, but at reduced prices.
 
“Often, the company has a great burden to maintain this infrastructure. So, the company that serves these locations, for having these guarantees and exemptions, can offer a product with a lower price”, he evaluated.
 
According to Ordinance No. 7.437/2017, from Setel do MCTIC, the company must indicate the location of interest, demonstrate capacity to serve it and present a service proposal indicating speeds, schedule, price estimate, technology and service to be offered , in addition to proving that it meets the requirements established by the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) for the provision of the Multimedia Communication Service.
 
“We want to ensure that people who live in these locations are able to hire an internet access plan. Today that doesn't exist, even if she wants to. A good part of the population has a cell phone or smartphone, but cannot use it”, he said.
 
It will be up to the municipality to select a plot of land in the indicated location for the installation of an antenna by the internet company accredited to provide the service. In addition to guaranteeing the security of this land, the city hall will also have to pay the electric energy expenses that this antenna will consume.