Telebras and SES bring internet access to over 1500 sites in Brazil's Northern Region

Telebras and SES bring internet access to over 1500 sites in Brazil's Northern Region
by Erica Marchand
Paris, France (SPX) Dec 06, 2024

Telebras, in partnership with SES and other collaborators, has enhanced digital connectivity in Brazil's Northern Region by deploying over 1,500 Internet access points. These sites, established through the Government Electronic Service for Citizen Assistance (GESAC) program, include public institutions, schools, libraries, telecenters, health units, indigenous villages, and rural settlements.

This initiative leverages SES's Managed Enterprise solution delivered via the SES-17 Ka-band satellite. SES is responsible for operating and maintaining the network infrastructure, including satellite systems, gateways, and remote sites. Connections began in April 2024 and are supported by SES's state-of-the-art gateway in Hortolandia, Brazil. SES-17, a geostationary satellite, is designed to support digital inclusion programs across Brazil and Latin America, offering comprehensive coverage and high-performance connectivity.

GESAC, led by Brazil's Ministry of Communications (MCom), aims to foster digital and social inclusion by providing free Internet access to vulnerable communities in rural and remote areas. Since its inception in 2002, the program has established over 15,000 Internet points, enhancing e-government initiatives and bridging the digital divide.

"Telebras has extensive experience in digital inclusion, and we have long been an ally of remote and underserved communities by bringing information and communication technologies that promote digital access and progress. As part of this project, we will do much more because digital inclusion enhances access to citizenship," said Frederico Siqueira, President of Telebras. "SES is a great partner that shares our commitment to bridging the digital divide across Brazil, and with its Managed Enterprise solution via SES-17 satellite and the ability to reach remote areas across the entire country, we will continue to provide life-changing internet access to many."

Omar Trujillo, Vice President of Enterprise Americas at SES, added, "Brazil has made significant progress in recent years in improving the population's access to the Internet, but there still room for improvement on the reach and quality of the services covering some low-density population areas in the country. We are delighted to support Telebras as part of the GESAC Program and at the same time contribute to the social advancement of communities that historically had little or no connectivity."

He further emphasized, "Through a combination of our cutting-edge ground system technology, advanced satellite capabilities, and service lifecycle expertise, our Managed Enterprise via SES-17 service provides the throughput, high performance and flexibility required to connect underserved and isolated places across Brazil and throughout the Americas region with minimal initial capital expenditures. Satellite-enabled solutions play a fundamental role in reducing the digital divide especially for those areas and communities."