Anatel envisions connecting public schools in Rio Grande do Sul

The National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) has approved the envisage of Phase 4 of the Public Schools Connectivity Project. Prioritizes the connection of educational institutions in flood-affected municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul. The measure is an urgent response to the problems faced by the state.

(14) With the decision announced on Tuesday, the resources and program for this phase will be adapted to the current situation of the public disaster in the region. The Cost Monitoring Group for School Linkage Projects (Gape) will prioritize local schools involved in phase 1 of the initiative. Execution is planned as of June.

Expectation will benefit 170 public schools to be served in the 2nd phase and 404 schools planned to be served in the 3rd and 4th phases. These institutions, located in the regions most affected by storms, will ensure the continuity of educational activities by restoring access to education and technology.

According to the agency, The emergency measure will not jeopardize the progress of the project in other parts of the country. It also demonstrates Anatel’s alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda.

Satellite connectivity can be included

Phase 4 of the Public Schools Connectivity Project, recently mooted by the regulator, also includes the possibility of interconnecting educational institutions using satellite internet services. This kind of service should be Provided in areas where cable and fiber connections cannot reach.

Previous studies have stated that: At least 50% of schools must use satellitesConsidering the whole of Brazil located in remote areas. These units are often more than 10 km away from wired networks, making service availability difficult.

At this stage, the planned budget for the connection of 18,500 schools nationwide is R$ 1.85 billion for internal and external networks and energy expenditures, if necessary. In the specific case of institutions in Rio Grande do Sul, The amount the government expects is R$ 71.8 million.