NEW PHONE AND INTERNET SCHEME FOR ORDINARY BRAZILIANS

Recent Brazilian news includes an interesting initiative for 2012. It’s been confirmed by the national Government that a new communications scheme will be launched this year, aimed at (and designed for) people on modest incomes. The deal will include both mobile phone (cell phone) and internet access and the plans will sell for up to $30 per month.


The country’s Communications Minister Paulo Bernardo has announced the main features of the new scheme. These involve a certain amount of flexibility as regards carriers coupled with comparatively generous limits on usage for either element (phone and internet) of the new deal.

S. Bernardo went on to explain further. To ensure that only the intended and targeted groups are able to access the arrangement, applicants must demonstrate that they are in receipt of some form of government welfare or benefit or be registered with CadUnico, the Brazilian Single Registry for Social Programmes.
The entire scheme is being jointly developed at national level by ‘Anatel’ ( the National Communications Agency) working together with the Ministry itself. The joint enterprise has invited the proposals and participation of prospective companies.

In Brazil at present there is an estimated total of more than 240 million mobile phones, an average of about 1.2 for every man, woman and child. Clearly, the new programme will have wide-ranging implications for ordinary Brazilians. For one thing, it will make more information more readily available for people in their daily lives. It will consequently affect patterns of consumer choice and spending, for everything from daily groceries and entertainment all the way up the scale to participation in the exciting new ‘Minha Casa Minha Vida' affordable homes scheme.