Brazilian minister 'concerned' about fixed broadband caps

Brazilian communications minister André Figueiredo is "concerned" about the possibility of telecoms carriers applying monthly data caps to fixed broadband plans, as is the case with mobile broadband, according to a letter sent to telecoms watchdog Anatel.

In the document, Figueiredo calls on the regulator to adopt measures to force local carriers to respect existing contracts and the rights of customers, the communications ministry (MiniCom) said in a statement.

Some of the fixed broadband providers in Brazil are reportedly considering ending plans with "unlimited" data use and setting a monthly cap. Once this cap is reached, users could have their internet limited or blocked unless they pay for extra data.

Market leader Vivo said its caps will be go into force in 2017, but will only be applied to plans acquired after February this year.

Consumer entities have protested, but Anatel says those companies operate in the private regime and are free to define their business models.

"We know that there is a regulatory provision to limit [internet plans], but contracts cannot be unilaterally changed. Anatel needs to take action to protect the user," Figueiredo said in the letter.

Operators have been saying that the contracts in force always considered the possibility of data caps, but that it had been never enforced.

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