Cooperatives can now offer telecommunication services in Brazil

This change, published last week in the country’s Official Gazette, will, it is hoped, expand connectivity in regions that are still outside the digital map, especially rural areas, remote communities and urban peripheries, where millions of Brazilians still face limited access.

The government suggests that this amendment to the General Telecommunications Law will enable the expansion of digital infrastructure and the democratisation of telecommunications services.

Indeed, the Minister of Communications, Frederico de Siqueira Filho, is quoted as saying: “Having access to the internet today is as essential as energy and water. By allowing cooperatives to provide telecommunications services, we are opening the doors for rural, riverside and peripheral communities to finally have access to the same opportunities as the rest of the country.”

Not only will cooperatives now be able to provide services like fixed broadband, but they will also enjoy the rights and duties of a service provider, including access to sectoral funding sources.

A cooperative is defined as a business owned and run jointly by its members, with profits or benefits shared among them. Brazil has a massive and diverse cooperative sector, making it a global leader. The sector is particularly strong in agribusiness, healthcare, credit, energy, and now, potentially, telecommunications.

https://thecooperator.news/brazilian-coop-launches-new-e-commerce-platform-to-boost-transparency/

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