Brazil's Ministry of Communications brings 4G to more than 200 rural communities

The Ministry of Communications has expanded 4G mobile coverage to over 2,902 rural localities across Brazil since 2023, reaching more than two million residents. In the northern state of Pará, the rollout added 4G service to more than 160 communities, while Acre, Bahia, Maranhão and Tocantins each saw dozens of new connections – 43 in Bahia, 26 in Maranhão, 23 in Tocantins and several in Acre.

Minister Frederico de Siqueira Filho said the program aims to close the digital divide, enabling telemedicine, distance education, banking and agricultural services for residents who previously lacked broadband. Installation requires building new towers up to about 32 metres high, securing environmental licences and radio‑frequency authorisations, and is supported by a reverse‑auction scheme that subsidises operators in low‑return areas. The effort is coordinated with the Gired group, which oversees spectrum reallocation and digital TV transition.

The expansion is part of a broader federal strategy to integrate rural populations into Brazil’s digital economy and improve access to essential public services.