Internet providers are expanding digital inclusion and highlighting BNDES support for investments in the sector.

247 - The Brazilian Association of Internet and Telecommunications Providers (Abrint) highlighted the contribution of regional providers to the advancement of digital inclusion in Brazil, emphasizing the need for public policies and strategic investments. Although operators such as Claro, Vivo, and Oi have a large market share, regional providers are responsible for more than 54% of fixed broadband connections in the country. Small businesses lead in more than 5,000 Brazilian municipalities. In an interview with TV 247, Aristóteles Dantas, a member of Abrint's board, stated that these providers are essential for bringing quality internet to the most remote areas. "Most of these companies are family-owned and operate in locations where large operators don't reach, playing a pioneering role in national connectivity," he said. There are more than 20,000 internet providers in the country, of which 2,000 are associated with Abrint.

According to Dantas, the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) plays a crucial role in supporting regional providers. He highlighted that the institution has promoted partnerships with Abrint and other sector entities to secure resources that expand telecommunications networks and improve available infrastructure. "BNDES has listened to the sector's needs and worked to offer access to credit with more attractive conditions, enabling fundamental investments for network expansion and equipment renewal," he explained.

The advisor stressed that the telecommunications sector faces rapid cycles of technological renewal, with the need to update equipment such as routers and ONUs (Optical Network Units) every three to five years. "The renewal of 20% of equipment annually generates millions of units that need to be replaced, fueling the industry's ecosystem and creating job opportunities. This is where the support of BNDES and public banks is essential to ensure quality and continuity," he stated.

Dantas also drew attention to the difficulties faced by small businesses, especially those enrolled in the Simples Nacional tax regime, in accessing credit lines. He highlighted that financial requirements, such as the demand for audited financial statements, make the process unfeasible for many smaller providers. "These companies, which are the heart of digital inclusion in Brazil, do not have the economic capacity to meet requirements such as audits by large firms. Therefore, we need more inclusive public policies, built collaboratively between BNDES, public banks, and the private sector," he suggested.

Public policies and digital inclusion

According to preliminary research from the 2022 Demographic Census: Characteristics of Households, released by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), nine out of ten Brazilians, 89,4%, live in households with internet access. However, access is not the same across all regions and states, and there is inequality among all segments and races and ethnicities. The data shows that 12,9% of the Black population, 12,7% of the mixed-race population, 7,5% of the white population, and 5,6% of the Asian population did not have home internet access. Among the Indigenous population, 44,5% did not have internet at home.

To ensure greater inclusion in internet access, the Abrint advisor also advocated for the implementation of public policies that encourage connectivity in rural and remote areas, where the challenges are most significant. Regions like Northern Brazil face geographical obstacles, such as rivers and forests, which increase the cost of installing fiber optic networks. "Resolving issues such as the cost of sharing poles and other barriers is fundamental for the expansion of high-speed broadband in rural communities, quilombola communities, and villages," he argued. With the continued support of institutions like BNDES and the adoption of inclusive public policies, Abrint believes that Brazil can further expand its digital reach and ensure that all people, regardless of their location, have access to quality internet. "Digital inclusion is not just a matter of technology, but of citizenship and social development," Dantas concluded.

BNDES finances actions to expand the broadband internet network throughout the country. Among the institutional instruments is the Universalization Fund for Telecommunications Services (FUST), with resources managed by BNDES, which aims to stimulate access to telecommunications to allow the expansion of access to fixed and mobile broadband internet, with adequate quality and speed, and the expansion of broadband internet access in areas where the supply is inadequate, such as underserved urban, rural or remote areas.

Cashback for taxes paid on phone and internet bills.

The rapporteur for the tax reform regulation in the Senate, Eduardo Braga (MDB-AM), presented a proposal that promises to benefit millions of Brazilians registered in the Unified Registry (CadÚnico). The senator suggested that these citizens should be entitled to receive back, through a "cashback" system, the tax paid on telecommunications service bills, such as internet and telephone plans. If passed in the Senate, the proposal will return to the Chamber of Deputies, which has not yet discussed it. According to Abrint, the tax refund will help reduce the costs of internet access and related services, enabling low-income families to contract higher-quality packages at more affordable prices.

Watch the full interview: