Brazil to expand fiber network in northeast

Brazil's ministry of science, technology, innovation and communications (MCTIC) will invest an initial 80mn reais (US$20mn) to expand and enhance the infrastructure of fixed broadband through fiber optics in the country’s northeast.

The expansion will be made through the national academic research internet network RNP, which focuses on connecting federal universities, federal institutes and research units.

The first phase of the program will reach 77 locations this year in six states and 16 cities, connecting 64 federal, state and private institutions, MCTIC said in a statement.

By 2021, the goal is to complete the network in 16 metropolitan networks and allow the connection of 1,317 schools to the internet.

According to the ministry, the northeast region is the beginning of a broader project that will cover the entire country, renewing internet network capacity.