Tech, Data, Telecoms & Media, Brazil updates
Bill exempts technology start-ups from paying federal taxes
- Brazil
- 22 October 2013
A recent senate bill offering tax breaks to new technology start-ups is to be put to a vote by the House of Representatives. The bill creates the System for the Special Treatment of New Technology Enterprises, under which registered start-ups will be temporarily exempt from all federal taxes for the first two years of incorporation, extendable for an additional two years.
ANATEL approves bid notice for 4G frequency auction
- Brazil
- 09 May 2012
Brazil's telecommunications regulator (ANATEL) recently approved the bid notice for the 2.5 gigahertz radio frequency band, to be used for the provision of 4G technology, and the 450 megahertz radio frequency band, designed to improve coverage in Brazil's rural areas. The requirements to use national technology set out in the initial draft bid notice have been maintained.
Ministry of Communications publishes rules for Digital City Project
- Brazil
- 02 May 2012
The Ministry of Communications recently published Call for Proposals 001/2012-MC, relating to the Digital City Project. The project is designed to achieve greater efficiency in the management of cities through the deployment of network connection infrastructure between municipal authorities and local public equipment, thereby improving community access to government services.
ANATEL publishes draft fixed telephony universalisation regulation
- Brazil
- 28 March 2012
Brazil's telecommunications regulator (ANATEL) recently submitted for public consultation its proposed Regulation of the Fixed Switched Telephone Service Universalisation Obligations. The proposed regulation will govern the General Universalisation Goals Plan, which establishes the universal access and service goals for fixed switched telephone service incumbents for the period 2011 to 2015.
ANATEL plans to implement ninth digit for mobile phone numbers
- Brazil
- 29 February 2012
Brazil's telecommunications regulator, ANATEL, recently published a statement in the Official Gazette stating that an additional digit will be implemented in the numbering of personal mobile services. The current numbering system has eight digits. The ninth digit will initially be added only to mobile phones from Area 11, which corresponds to the City of Sao Paulo and 63 other municipalities of the metropolitan region.
ANATEL discusses draft 4G technology bid notice
- Brazil
- 15 February 2012
Brazil's telecommunications regulator (ANATEL) recently submitted to public consultation the draft bid notice for the 450 megahertz (MHz) and 2.5 gigahertz (GHz) radio frequency bands. The 450 MHz band auction aims to provide the lowest price to end users and the 2.5 GHz band bidding process aims to promote access to high-speed mobile broadband, using fourth-generation mobile technology.
ANATEL publishes public consultation on fixed and mobile broadband quality
- Brazil
- 01 February 2012
ANATEL, the Brazilian telecommunications regulator, recently submitted to public consultation an application it had received for the annulment of several provisions of the service quality management regulations for multimedia communication and personal mobiles. The provisions affected by the application relate to the indicators used to evaluate the quality of fixed and mobile broadband and the quality perceived by the user.
Pay television market opened up to telecommunications carriers
- Brazil
- 05 October 2011
Following the recent signing into law of Bill 116/10, the most significant change for the telecommunications sector is the removal of the restrictions in the pay television market for foreign investors and fixed switched telephony service concessionaires. It is hoped that the new law will foster competition in the market, thereby increasing supply and lowering prices for the consumer.
ANATEL proposes plan to open up telecommunications market
- Brazil
- 14 September 2011
Brazil's telecommunications regulator (ANATEL), which aims to govern competition between the different providers, recently submitted its proposed General Plan of Competition Goals for public consultation. ANATEL intends to define the new criteria to identify the strongest economic groups (ie, those with significant market power) to establish obligations related to the opening up of the market.
ANATEL discusses new regulations for multimedia communication
- Brazil
- 31 August 2011
Brazil's telecommunications regulator recently submitted for public consultation its proposal for an update to the Multimedia Communication Service (MCS) Regulation, introducing state and local licences and MCS agents, and providing for network neutrality. The agency also proposed the creation of an MCS Quality Management Regulation to establish minimum quality standards for broadband connections.
Government approves amendments to telephony service plans
- Brazil
- 20 July 2011
The Brazilian government recently approved amendments to both the General Plan for Universalisation Goals and the National Broadband Plan. The universalisation plan aims to establish quality standards for the telecommunications services that support internet access. Concurrent with these amendments, the government has negotiated the adhesion of fixed telephony incumbents to the National Broadband Plan.
Regulator releases new cable television rules for public consultation
- Brazil
- 23 June 2011
Brazil's telecommunications regulator, ANATEL, recently launched three relevant public consultations for the cable television market, respectively the proposed cable television service regulation, the proposed rule for companies that currently render the service and the proposed rule for companies that are not yet providers of the service.
First steps taken towards regulation of 4G
- Brazil
- 27 April 2011
The National Telecommunications Agency has taken the first step to regulate fourth-generation mobile services, through the publication of Resolution 544. The resolution alters the allocation of the 2.5 gigahertz frequency bandwidth of multi-point, multi-channel distribution services (previously used for the provision of pay television), allocating it to personal mobile services used for the provision of mobile telephony.
ANATEL submits controversial proposals to public consultation
- Brazil
- 02 March 2011
The National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL) has submitted to public consultation three proposals that have caused serious debate in the telecommunications sector in recent months. Among other things, the proposals aim to re-evaluate the rules governing the industrial exploitation of private leased lines in Brazil and revoke the Regulation for Fixed Switched Telephone Service.
Postal service to stage procurement process for telecommunications services
- Brazil
- 23 February 2011
The Brazilian Post Office and Telegraph Company will shortly conduct E-reverse Auction 10000196/2010, with the purpose of contracting a multimedia communications service provider to connect its building units through a national telecommunications network. The bids will be judged according to the lowest aggregate price, and consortia and cooperatives will be permitted to participate.
ANATEL approves inclusion of ninth digit in mobile numbering
- Brazil
- 12 January 2011
The National Telecommunications Agency has approved a proposal for the inclusion of a ninth digit in mobile phone numbers used in the Sao Paulo metropolitan region. The need to include a ninth digit results from the growing demand for mobile broadband services. This fact accelerated the use of available telephone codes and could have culminated in a numbering shortage.
ANATEL approves provision of cable TV by FSTS concessionaires
- Brazil
- 22 December 2010
The National Telecommunications Agency recently approved the proposed revision of fixed switched telephone service concession contracts that are entered into between 2011 and 2015. The main alteration to the concession contracts is the exclusion of the clause that prohibit these companies from offering cable television services in areas where they provide telecommunications services.
ANATEL approves MVNO regulation
- Brazil
- 08 December 2010
The National Telecommunications Agency has approved the Regulation on the Exploitation of Personal Mobile Services via Virtual Networks, thus enabling the supply and resale of mobile telecommunications services through mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). Pursuant to the regulation, MVNOs may operate either as agents or as virtual network licensees.
Telebrás begins procurement procedures for National Broadband Plan
- Brazil
- 17 November 2010
Decree 7175 instituted the National Broadband Plan - the objective of which is to boost access to broadband internet services in Brazil - and tasked government-controlled Telebrás with management of the plan. For the implementation of the plan, Telebrás has already conducted two bidding procedures, both of which were e-reverse auctions.
ANATEL publishes bid notice for Band H auction
- Brazil
- 10 November 2010
The National Telecommunications Agency has published a notice concerning the bidding for Band H and the remaining personal mobile service radio frequencies. This will be the last auction of third-generation radio frequencies. In the initial bidding phase, existing mobile telephony operators will be precluded from participating in the bid in order to allow for the entry of a new player at national level.
