Plano Nacional de Internet das Coisas recebe 2.288 contribuições em consulta pública do MCTIC

The National Plan for the Internet of Things (IoT) received 2,288 contributions from society in the public consultation opened by the Department of Information Technology Policy of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovations and Communications. Closed on February 6, the consultation opened a channel of communication with the population to receive subsidies for the construction of the plan. The results will be discussed by the IoT Chamber, created by the Brazilian government in 2014, which has the participation of MCTIC and 42 other government agencies, representative entities and Brazilian research centers.

Suggestions sent to the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovations and Communications will help to build a national policy with actions aimed at developing the IoT market in Brazil until 2022. The consultation opened a channel of communication with the population and the results will be discussed by the Internet of Things Chamber, created by the government with the participation of MCTIC and other 42 government agencies, representative entities and Brazilian research centers.

Along with society's suggestions, a study requested by MCTIC in partnership with the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) will serve as the basis for the plan, whose guidelines should be announced in the coming weeks.

The consultation had 23,000 unique hits, which resulted in 2,288 contributions on major topics related to the IoT, addressed in a series of questions. On average, each question received 15 responses.

"Popular participation is essential for us to build a public policy that is effective and that contemplates what society and the Brazilian IoT sector yearn for. We had a very good number of contributions and, now, we are going to use this material to build a National Plan for more robust IoT", said the Secretary of Information Technology Policy, Maximiliano Martinhão.

Demand was the leading area in terms of participation, with 387 contributions. Research and Development (257); role of the state (226); technological supply and composition of ecosystems (225); and regulatory affairs (219) follow closely behind. The following topics were also consulted: security and privacy, which had 185 participations; networks and data transport, with 163 contributions; human resources and support for applications and services, which received 139 suggestions each; gateways and devices, with 131 suggestions; infrastructure management, which had 108 contributions; investment, financing and promotion, with 64 responses; and aspirations, with 42 participations.

The plan

The National IoT Plan will serve to guide public actions and policies for the sector until 2022. The guidelines should be presented by the MCTIC in the coming weeks. "The National Plan for the Internet of Things will help us to make very significant advances in heating up the economy and generating jobs. A series of things Brazil already has: cutting-edge research in information technology, qualified labor and a large and very strong market. This document will stimulate national development", highlighted the Minister of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications, Gilberto Kassab.

ABES contributions

To present the contributions of ABES, representatives of the entity met last month with Maximiliano Martinhão. According to the document delivered by ABES, the emergence of IoT is an opportunity for Brazilian economic development. ABES highlights the growing local performance of the information technology software and services sectors, fundamental for national development and competitiveness, and draws attention to the relevant role of the State as an inducer of IoT development. Discouraging the implementation of specific regulations for IoT, the entity warns of some points that it considers important to be covered by the National IoT Policy, such as security, privacy, interoperability, among others. The full position can be accessed here.

Connected world

In 2015, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researcher Kevin Ashton, one of the first to address the topic, offered an interesting definition of IoT. "We are witnessing the moment when two distinct networks – the network of human communications, exemplified in the internet, and the real world of things – need to meet. computer can be used independently, in order to make life more efficient. Objects, 'things', will be intelligently connected to each other and networked, and will begin to 'feel' the world around them and interact", explained Ashton in an interview with the electronic magazine Inovação em Pauta, published by the Financier of Studies and Projects (Finep).

Estimates made by the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) indicate that there are, in Brazil, about 20 million machine-to-machine connections. The number is expected to jump to 42 million in 2020. Worldwide, by 2025, the total number of connected objects should be between 100 million and 200 million, according to the consultancy Teleco.

According to MCTIC's Secretary for Information Technology Policies, Maximiliano Martinhão, Brazil is one of the main IoT hubs. The fourth largest consumer market for connected equipment in the world, the country has the potential to expand its global share, along with the development of solutions for the domestic market.

"By 2025, each Brazilian citizen will have, around him, seven machine-machine pieces of equipment - whether a watch that is connected, a television, or a car. The Brazilian market will grow a lot, and from this growth a series of services and applications, which are an opportunity for socio-economic development for the country. If we prepare ourselves, Brazilian companies will be able to serve our market and the international market", highlighted Martinhão.