Brazil mulls plans for government-owned ISP

Brazil's government is considering plans to establish a state-backed vehicle to provide broadband Internet access services in the country at a cost of up to BRL20 billion (USD10.7 billion).

Targeting underserved and remote rural areas, the new company would be called InfoBrasil. A study is being drawn up to consider options for the move and the details will be presented to President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva on 10 February. Brazil is actively developing a national broadband plan that aims to realize a total of 90 million broadband connections by 2014, reaching around half of Brazilian homes.

(Feb 1)