
In MWC Barcelona, operators and authorities discussed how to connect the quarter of Brazilian population who do not use mobile internet services despite living within broadband coverage.
21 March, 2023, Bras lia: The Brazilian mobile industry has joined forces for digital inclusion. During MWC Barcelona, the GSMA, the global mobile industry association, with operators Algar, Claro, TIM and Vivo, launched the report Closing the usage gap in Brazil. Key barriers to mobile internet adoption and use.' The study was presented to the Ministry of Communications, the Federal Court of Accounts and the regulatory authority Anatel. The initiative is part of We Care, a global initiative led by the GSMA to support the mobile industry's commitment in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs).
The majority of Brazilians who cannot enjoy the benefits of mobile connectivity face demand-side barriers rather than constraints linked to network reach, says Lucas Gallitto, Head of Latin America, GSMA. The usage gap is today the main challenge to universal access. By uniting the industry and facilitating a dialogue between the public and private sectors, We Care offers a platform to address it. With this initiative, the Brazilian industry sends a clear message: we care about connecting everyone to the mobile broadband.
According to the report, around 25% of the Brazilian population (54 million people) live within coverage of a network but do not use mobile internet services. The study highlights three main barriers to overcome this situation:
Affordability. In Brazil, an entry-level broadband subscription costs less than 2% of gross national income per capita, a cost aligned with the affordability targets set by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The cost of an internet-enabled handset, however, is 6% of monthly GDP per capita, significantly higher than the level seen for the leader countries that have the largest online populations (2.5%). The weight of this barrier is much greater for the lower income segments of the population, and calls for further collaboration to address the issue of handset affordability.
Taxation. Brazil imposes several taxes on mobile services and handsets, including state VAT (ICMS), federal VAT (IPI), municipal services tax (ISS), PIS/COFINS, FUST and FUNTELL charges. Although tax burdens such as ICMS have been reduced in 2022, the proportion of mobile service costs that are driven by taxation in Brazil still remains among the highest globally, equating to approximately 30% of operators' net income. Reducing these sector specific taxes result in more affordable services and handsets for end consumers.
Digital literacy. According to an ITU survey, the percentage of people with basic ICT skills in Brazil is 21%, compared to 62% in leading countries. Considering standard ICT skills, the comparison is 12% versus 46%, while for advanced skills, the percentage in Brazil is 2% versus 8% in leading countries.
Based on the diagnosis, the mobile industry proposed to the authorities a series of public policy recommendations focusing on:
Improve digital literacy by developing a policy impact analysis on current government programmes and an improvement plan in synergy with other digital instruments already made available by telecom companies.
Reform the tax policy of the mobile sector, promoting a simple, transparent and symmetric system, compatible with connectivity goals and a more efficient use of the Universal Telecommunications Service Fund (FUST in Portuguese).
Boost investment incentives through appropriate fiscal and regulatory conditions, public-private partnerships for network deployment in remote areas and the adoption of additional investment alternatives from other players in the digital ecosystem.
The report highlights a series of initiatives put in place by mobile operators in Brazil to address barriers such as digital literacy. For example, Algar's Talents of the Future promotes the development of technical and behavioural skills on young people aged 15 and over. Claro, in partnership with the University of S o Paulo (USP), developed Campus Mobile', a competition for university students and recent graduates focused in various study areas including Education and Smart Cities. TIM partnered with other companies to strengthen the agenda of female empowerment though the project Positive Women'. Vivo's Think Big Tech' program trains educators and students in technology-related topics.
Through the We Care campaign, the mobile industry in Brazil is looking to join forces and collaborate with the Government and authorities to achieve shared goals of connecting everyone to the opportunities offered by mobile broaband connectivity.
Closing the usage gap in Brazil. Key barriers to mobile internet adoption and use' is available for download here.
-ENDS-
About the GSMA
The GSMA is a global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments and societal change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry, and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organisations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA delivers for its members across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, Industry Services and Solutions, and Outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, tackling today's biggest societal challenges, underpinning the technology and interoperability that make mobile work, and providing the world's largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events.
We invite you to find out more at gsma.com
Like what you read? Share.
Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Open
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
02/05/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
14/04/2026
ToolsOnAir and Omnistream Bring Mobile SRT Contribution into Professional 24/7 P...
14/04/2026
Haivision has announced the Falkon X4, a 5G mobile video transmitter for live broadcast and remote production. The device will be showcased at NAB Show 2026.
...
14/04/2026
Founded by veterans of the production-truck world, Stripe TV was born out of a d...
14/04/2026
Grass Valley has expanded its partnership with Studio Berlin, supplying 12 LDX 135 UHD/HDR camera systems and 12 LDX 180 Super 35mm cinematic cameras, including...
14/04/2026
LTN has announced two senior appointments ahead of NAB Show 2026: Mark Romano as Vice President, Multichannel Platforms, and Edward Cox as Vice President, Sales...
14/04/2026
Sennheiser and Italian rental company Agor have begun preparations for their Eu...
14/04/2026
DAZN and ADI Predictstreet have announced a partnership to integrate ADI Predict...
14/04/2026
Deltatre has announced the completion of a direct-to-fan website and app for Leg...
14/04/2026
Daktronics, will exhibit at NAB Show 2026 in partnership with Grass Valley at Booth C2408, Las Vegas Convention Center, April 19-22.
Daktronics will showcase a...
14/04/2026
Backblaze will host a series of partner presentations at NAB Show 2026 (Booth N1259, North Hall), open to all exhibition hall badge holders. Showcase partners i...
14/04/2026
BRAHMA AI will exhibit at NAB Show 2026 (Booth W2415, West Hall), demonstrating its Enterprise AI Content Platform for media, entertainment, sports, and technol...
14/04/2026
Bridge Technologies has announced that its VB440 production probe has been integrated into NEP Platform, NEP Group's software orchestration system. The inte...
14/04/2026
Clear-Com will introduce new products and demonstrate its communications ecosystem for broadcast and live production at NAB Show 2026 (Booth C5807, April 19-22)...
14/04/2026
EZDRM will use NAB Show 2026 (Booth W2260) to introduce the Revenue Security Prism, a framework for combining multiple security technologies to protect streamin...
14/04/2026
Telos Alliance will introduce the following products at NAB Show 2026:
TV and Media
Telos Infinity MK2 Panels: A new generation of hardware control panels for...
14/04/2026
Panasonic Video and Audio Systems North America will exhibit at NAB Show 2026 (Booth C3509), demonstrating IP- and IT-based production solutions for sports, bro...
14/04/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...
14/04/2026
Blackmagic Design will exhibit at NAB Show 2026 (Booth N2502). CEO Grant Petty s product announcement livestream is available at youtube.com. The company announ...
14/04/2026
The deal establishes a close strategic alignment' between the iconic cinema...
14/04/2026
BIGSHOT Media, with support from Teradek, produced untamed African mountain-bike race' with daily coverage and highlights show
The 2026 Absa Cape EPIC, an...
14/04/2026
The Sports Video Group (SVG) today announced the launch of the SVG AI Innovation...
14/04/2026
Captures a trio of renowned polysynths
The latest software to join AIR Music Tech's extensive catalogue captures the sound of three sought-after polysyn...
14/04/2026
Free offering includes 10 powerful plug-ins
United Plugins have announced the launch of a new bundle that brings together 10 of their pro-audio plug-ins, an...
14/04/2026
Julian Coryell joins virtual session player line-up
Announced at NAMM 2026, Celemony's Tonalic kits DAW users out with real performances by world-class ...
14/04/2026
WESCAM MX -Series EO/IR Systems Provide Critical Visibility During NASA Re-Entry Operations....
14/04/2026
DiSCO reduces uncertainty during the fog of war in modern threat environments an...
14/04/2026
GOES-19 imagery captured by L3Harris-built Advanced Baseline Imager technology helps forecasters issue life-saving weather warnings. Credit: NOAA/NASA...
14/04/2026
For decades, understanding the physical world from space has required a trade-of...
14/04/2026
Ruiz has helped fuel growth for both client-side and media companies, including, most recently, TelevisaUnivision.
He will spearhead transformation, innovatio...
14/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
14/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
14/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
14/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
14/04/2026
Shotoku Introduces the World to Aura P2 PTZ Prompter Panner at NAB 2026
New system removes PTZ pan restrictions for teleprompter-based productions
Shotoku US...
14/04/2026
Integration of Vantage, Pulse, and Telestream UP with Grass Valley AMPP Ecosystem enables scalable, interoperable workflows spanning live production and file-ba...
14/04/2026
Enterprise growth leader to scale Dalet's next phase of innovation and global expansion
New York, NY April 14, 2026 Dalet, a leading technology and ser...
14/04/2026
Berklee Celebrates Prince's Legacy in Two-Night Signature Series Event Directed by Tia Fuller, the Prince Project (April 16-17) brings together more than ...
14/04/2026
Arooj Aftab Is Anything but Predictable The singular artist explores the juxtaposition of grief and joy, dark and light, in her distinctive sound.
April 14, ...
14/04/2026
Appear launches include XM estate management and new X Platform processing enhancements to add density for next-generation hybrid & IP workflows, X5 is also now...
14/04/2026
Addressing the needs of a new generation's viewing habits, Synamedia launches GO Shorts. The AI-powered module turns existing catalogues into TikTok-style ...
14/04/2026
Vubiquity, an Amdocs company and global leader in technology-led media services, will be showcasing a new end-to-end streaming solution in collaboration with El...
14/04/2026
LiveU today announced a significant expansion of its collaboration with Sony Corporation, introducing integrated support for Sony's file-based workflow solu...
14/04/2026
Open Broadcast Systems (https://www.obe.tv/) has announced that BBC World Service has selected its decoders for IP Television distribution. The high-quality, lo...
14/04/2026
Blackmagic Design Announces DaVinci Resolve 21
Brie Clayton April 14, 2026
0 Comments
Major update adds new Photo page bringing Hollywood's most a...