ICT Tender: São Paulo selects America Net to expand Wi-Fi program

São Paulo selected telecom services provider America Net to expand a free local public Wi-Fi program to up to 619 sites, from the current 120 squares and parks.

This is twice the expansion the Brazilian city was originally planning for the program. The terms of the contract were not disclosed.

The process is being overseen by the municipal department of innovation and technology, which said the sign-up process for other interested companies will remain open for six months.

Brazil's largest city expects to save up to 12mn reais (US$3.2mn) per year, the amount necessary to maintain the 120 sites, by transferring to the private sector the maintenance of the entire program.

Under the terms of the call, America Net and other interested companies will have the right to benefit from a business model based on digital advertising, in a contract valid initially for five years.

"We are proposing a private sector financing model that does not burden public coffers and ensures quality internet for regions of greater social vulnerability," São Paulo innovation and tech secretary Daniel Annenberg said

The terms of the contract are in compliance with Brazil's internet bill of rights (Marco Civil da Internet) and with the recently approved data protection law, the city administration said, respecting the right to privacy, network neutrality and personal data protection.

America Net offers voice and data service and claims to have the fifth largest proprietary fiber optic network in the country, spanning over 16,000km.

In March, the company launched an MVNO eyeing the corporate market and using TIM's network, with investments of more than 100mn reais.

America Net was founded in 1996 as a corporate telecoms services provider. Located in the state of São Paulo, it has 15 offices across eight states.