Brazil to take satellite connection to Venezuela border

Brazil's science, technology, innovation and communications ministry (MCTIC) will activate 16 satellite internet points in the Pacaraima region of Roraima state, on the border with Venezuela.

Pacaraima faces an emergency situation and humanitarian crisis due to the large number of Venezuelan refugees entering Brazil.

Connection in the area will be made via MCTIC's suspended Gesac program, managed by state telco Telebras, following special authorization by federal audit court TCU. According to TCU, Telebras is authorized to make connections, through Gesac, at 98 sites on the border in Roraima and Amazonas states.

The rest of MCTIC's contract with Telebras, which envisages the activation of 15,000 satellite points in Brazil's remote regions, remains suspended.

With the green light, MCTIC said it will immediately activate the 16 Pacaraima points in federal police stations, hospitals, health posts, refugee shelters and vaccine immunization stations. Ground antennas should be installed during the coming week to secure the connections.

COMPUTERS

In addition, MCTIC said it sent to Pacaraima 100 computers donated by a computer refurbishing program. The equipment will be installed in schools and stations of Operação Acolhida (Operation Reception), along the border.