In an offensive against pay-TV piracy, the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) ordered the blocking of around 5 million clandestine decoders in use in the country. The shutdown will be done remotely, without the service providers having to enter the user’s home.
The determination begins immediately and occurs after Anatel receives a large volume of complaints of generalized cable television piracy, popularly known as “gatonet”.
Based on the complaints, the regulatory agency set up a technical group, which evaluated the data received and prepared a list of equipment models to be blocked. Currently, several clandestine devices are offered in websites e-commerce, usually under the name of TV Box, with prices ranging from R$150 to R$450. According to Anatel, the pages that offer the devices also incur a crime and can be punished.
Originally, TV Boxes provided internet connection to common televisions, transforming the device into a Smart TV. However, several devices not approved by the agency go beyond the function and are able to decode closed pay TV signals and display them to users.
According to Anatel, whoever produces and sells clandestine devices commits five infractions: use of non-approved equipment, clandestine transmission of telecommunications, misuse of pay-TV service, damage to the economic order and competition and risk to cybersecurity.
