Brazil mobile data price drops 11% as 4G/5G rural coverage expands

Anatel’s first‑quarter 2026 report shows the average price of a mobile gigabyte fell from R$ 6.13 to R$ 5.46, a 10.9% reduction. At the same time, average data use rose 21% to 6.51 GB per subscriber. The agency also noted regional price gaps, with the South costing around R$ 7.12 per GB and the lowest rates in the North.

The share of 4G and 5G networks in Brazil’s agricultural zones jumped from 18.7% in 2024 to 33.9% in 2025, an 81% increase, according to ConectarAGRO. The expanded connectivity is driving digitalisation in agribusiness, logistics, energy and mining, enabling real‑time monitoring, fleet management and predictive maintenance.

Industry voices warn that connectivity is now a critical infrastructure. Carlos Agusti, Nordian’s Latin America sales director, said, “The future of automation depends on continuous connectivity… it becomes as essential as energy, roads or logistics.” Meanwhile, the Associação Brasileira de Operadoras Móveis Virtuais (Abratual) disputes Anatel’s pricing figures, with president Olinto Sant’Anna claiming the data “is misleading because it relies on incorrect operator‑provided information.”