Brazil Ministry of Communications expands Amazon connectivity and proposes structural changes

The Brazilian Ministry of Communications is advancing the ‘Norte Conectado’ program, which aims to expand connectivity in the Amazon through the installation of subfluvial fiber optic cables in rivers. This initiative serves as an alternative to satellite internet, such as Starlink, providing a secondary layer of connectivity for remote populations in areas where dense forests and difficult geography make traditional infrastructure challenging.

Separately, Communications Minister Frederico Siqueira Filho has proposed renaming the ministry to include ‘digital infrastructure’ and ‘cybersecurity’ starting in 2027. This move aligns with industry requests to strengthen these sectors in Brasília. The minister also discussed upcoming regulatory frameworks, including the Artificial Intelligence Regulatory Framework and the Cybersecurity Regulatory Framework, noting that Anatel possesses the technical capacity to serve as a permanent regulator for cybersecurity.