At least 118 units of public universities and federal institutes, with internet connectivity difficulties, may benefit from a decision by the Board of Directors of the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel). 
>> Check the list of 118 units on the Anatel website
In an unprecedented way, the agency’s advisors approved that companies providing telecommunications servicesand which have a value of fines totaling R$29 million, can exchange the amounts they owe to guarantee connectivity for learning units located in 39 higher education institutions located in 72 municipalities. The companies fined by Anatel were Telefônica, Claro, Tim and Sky.
Councilor Octavio Pieranti explained to Brazil Agency that Anatel’s decision requires providers to do something in lieu of paying a fine.
“In this specific case, what was decided is that they must connect units to the internet via the RNP network (National Education and Research Network, a social organization that offers internet network structure to colleges)”.
He explains that, if companies do not want to comply with this obligation, they can ask to convert this obligation into a fine and then give up a planned discount (5%). The Anatel advisor adds that there are isolated areas that are on university campuses, but without access to the network.
“With this measure, Anatel also seeks to provide connection to these more distant units or spaces that, for some reason, are not yet participating in this RNP network with high-speed internet and academic integration services”, stated Peiranti, who was the author of the proposal approved by all councilors.
Number may be higher
Octavio Pieranti adds that, in addition to the 118 mapped units, there are mentions of another 226 that may also need connectivity. The counselor says that there is no regional priority logic for implementing services.
“The criterion is diversity. The provider that joins will be able to select the units from the list. The second benefiting unit must be from a different macro region than the first. The third unit must be from another macro region”, he concluded.
