The project installs over a thousand kilometres of the internet cable network in rivers in Amazonas

The initiative enables communication for military forces and access to services for the population

Amazonia Conectada Project already totals 1,200 kilometers of subfluvial optical networks installed to bring internet to the region - Photo: Brazilian Army

Nov 11, Amazonas: Facing the challenges of the forest region, the Amazonia Conectada Project already totals 1,200 kilometres of subfluvial optical networks installed on river beds to bring internet to the region. The goal is to reach 3,000 kilometres of networks, expanding the communications infrastructure in the Amazon region.

The project is coordinated by the Ministry of Defense, in partnership with the ministries of Communications and Science, Technology and Innovation.

The Brazilian Army acts directly in the engineering of implantation of the infrastructure for high-speed data transmission. Launched in 2015, the project has already received an investment of R $ 70 million. The forecast is to have fibre optic cables connecting Manaus to several Amazonian municipalities.

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The head of the Army's science and technology department, General Décio Luis Schons, explained that Amazonia Conectada arose from the need to make high-speed strategic connections between Army units in Western Amazonia and use the infrastructure to serve the population and power public.

“The capacity of this fibre optic cable is much greater than the needs of the Armed Forces. So, much of this capacity can be made available to government agencies at the three levels, federal, state and municipal, so that they fulfil their mission of providing support to communities ”, explains the general. "We see the possibility of telemedicine services, distance learning, access to justice, a perfect example of how an initiative in the field of defence can overflow to the benefit of the civilian population."

Underwater optical fibre will bring another advantage to the Armed Forces. It assists in the detection of movements considered abnormal in the waters, allowing the identification of suspicious boats in the rivers.

Also, read- Travelling with ambassadors to the Amazon was intense and fruitful, says Mourão

Project phases and extension

The first phase of the project started in 2015 with the installation of cables connecting the cities of Manaus to Tefé, on the bed of the Solimões River, and from Manaus to Novo Airão, on the bed of the Rio Negro, all in the state of Amazonas.

In the next phase, the installation of over 330 kilometres of cables connecting Novo Airão to Barcelos was possible thanks to the use of R $ 29.5 million recovered by Operation Lava Jato. The next goal is to connect Manaus to the Amazon municipality of São Gabriel da Cachoeira, according to the Ministry of Defense.

“Today, we have a perfectly functional connection from Manaus to the city of Barcelos. The Manaus, Manacapuru, Coari, Tefé link is under maintenance and should be operational by the end of this year ”, emphasizes the head of the Army's science and technology department, General Décio Luis Schons.

The general reported that the challenges for implementing the project are great. “Particularly, in view of the great extension of the launched cables. A total of about 1,200 kilometres to date. And the changing nature of the course of the rivers, particularly the Solimões River, which changes from one season to another, ”he says.

Also, read- Travelling with ambassadors to the Amazon was intense and fruitful, says Mourão

Creation

The project was instituted by Interministerial Ordinance No. 586, of July 22, 2015, within the scope of the National Broadband Program (PNBL) in the Amazon region.

The ordinance details that among the purposes of the initiative are to support policies for digital inclusion in the Amazon region; expand and improve military administrative and operational communications, contributing to national defence objectives; contribute to the internalization of public policies at the levels of federal and state governments; and ensuring efficiency and security of connectivity, encouraging and improving research and education activities.

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