Govt. increases Gesac budget to US$68.2mn

The Brazilian communication ministry has increased the budget for its internet access program Gesac to 187mn reais (US$68.2mn) from 70mn reais, local daily Gazeta Mercantil reported. The budget increase follows the recent announcement that the ministry will install additional internet access points, or telecenters, for low-income groups. The ministry plans to extend the network to 4,400 access points by the end of 2005, reaching 6 million users, compared to 3,200 telecenters that have already been installed all over Brazil. The Gesac program is part of a wider digital inclusion program the federal government is undertaking to offer services such as internet access to low-income groups. Meanwhile, the federal government expects to launch its 7mn-real Infovia project in May this year, linking 52 administration units in 47 buildings in Brazil's capital Brasília. "We have signed a one-year supply contract with Serpro (the federal government's data processing firm), but after it expires we will open doors for other operators," said Rogério Santanna, executive secretary for logistic and IT in the Brazilian planning ministry. "This will surely encourage competition," he added.