Anatel updates regarding Covid-19

The telecommunications sector is fundamental for Brazil to overcome the coronavirus pandemic and reaffirms its commitment to follow each Brazilian side in this great challenge.

It is in this context that, together with the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel), the undersigned companies present this public commitment, with measures to keep Brazil Connected so that the country can go through the current crisis in the best possible way. 

1.The services will continue to work

The providers will adopt action plans so that the telecommunications services continue to operate even with the major change in the usage profile. In addition, measures are being taken to ensure that technical, administrative and service teams continue to perform their duties safely for the health of employees and the population in general, considering any mobility restrictions imposed by the government;

2. Health and public security services will have special support

The providers will give priority to the bodies that provide services of public utility, such as health establishments. Likewise, they will make available to the Ministry of Health the number 196, for care actions that involve the current pandemic;

3. Consumer difficulties will be addressed

The providers will adapt the mechanisms for payment of bills, providing alternative means for the population, even in social isolation, to continue using telecommunications services. Special attention will be paid to consumers who use prepaid credits;

4. The population will be well informed

The providers will send alert and information messages to the population as requested by the competent authorities. And they will allow free access to the Coronavirus application, developed by the Ministry of Health.

Anatel and the Telecommunications Service Providers below signatories will maintain a crisis office in place so that new coordinated actions can be taken to mitigate the effects of this crisis.

In addition, Anatel will maintain, within the scope of the Risk Management and Monitoring of Telecommunications Networks Performance Group (GGRR), a permanent environment for assessing traffic conditions and capacity of telecommunications networks, focusing its efforts on monitoring networks and in articulation, with providers, public authorities and other private sectors, especially internet content providers, in adopting all the necessary measures to overcome the crisis. Likewise, it will prioritize emergency solutions that have as main objective the continuity of the service and its access by the Brazilian population, overlapping them with the rules created for moments of normality.

This public commitment does not prevent the provision of additional measures for the benefit of society by the Providers.

Based on information from ANATEL website.