Norte Conectado (North Connected)
Norte Conectado is an ambitious Brazilian government program designed to expand communications infrastructure throughout the Amazon region by implementing underwater fiber optic cables along the region's extensive river network. The initiative aims to bridge the digital divide in one of Brazil's most remote and underserved areas, providing reliable internet connectivity to communities that have historically lacked access to digital resources.
By leveraging the Amazon's natural waterways as pathways for connectivity infrastructure, the program seeks to connect 58 municipalities across 6 states (Roraima, Rond?nia, Pará, Amazonas, Amapá, and Acre), serving approximately 10 million inhabitants through the deployment of over 12,000 km of fiber optic cables by the end of 2025. The program is being implemented in multiple phases, with different funding sources for each phase, including strategic use of Universal Service and Access Funds (USAFs).
Norte Conectado represents a transformative approach to digital inclusion in the Amazon region, with significant implications for education, healthcare, economic development, and social integration of previously isolated communities.
Pros
Addresses a critical infrastructure gap in one of Brazil's most underserved regions
Leverages natural waterways as pathways for connectivity infrastructure, reducing environmental impact
Uses sustainable financing through the USAF mechanism to ensure long-term viability
Potential to transform educational opportunities through reliable digital connectivity
Creates a foundation for broader digital inclusion and economic development
Facilitates distance learning opportunities for students in isolated areas
Supports teacher professional development through online training
Promotes integration between urban centers and remote communities
Enables research collaboration between educational institutions in the Amazon region
Cons
Need for complementary investments in digital skills and content to maximize impact
Coordination complexities across multiple states and municipalities
Risk of uneven adoption across different communities
Environmental concerns related to infrastructure deployment in sensitive ecosystems
Dependency on continued government support and funding
Partners
Brazilian Ministry of Communications
National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL)
Regional state governments (Roraima, Rond?nia, Pará, Amazonas, Amapá, and Acre)
Telecommunications operators
Educational institutions
Local communities and indigenous groups
RNP (National Research and Education Network)
International development organizations
