Brazilian Government provides internet access in Yanomami land

Mobile satellite broadband connection antennas have begun to be installed in the Yanomami Indigenous land in Roraima. According to the Ministry of Communications, 17 pieces of equipment were made available to support medical care to the population and strengthen actions to confront the emergency situation in public health that affected the region.

"We are here today (9) to install a connectivity service through the Wi-Fi Brazil program. We already have several other pieces of equipment here in Boa Vista that will be distributed to the other base-places, bringing connectivity, communication to these areas to support all the humanitarian teams of the National Health Force," said the Minister of Communications, Juscelino Filho.

According to the folder, the National Health Force teams that are in Yanomami territory have already received training in the use of mobile antennas. Nine people have been trained and should act as multipliers of information within the poles of care.

The equipment works as Telebras Transportable Satellite Terminals, which connect to the internet through the Geostationary Defense and Strategic Communications Satellite. The device has a battery for use in periods of power outage, lasting up to eight hours. The modem has onboard wi-fi, and can be connected to cell phones and computers. 

The antennas are being sent on an emergency basis, but, according to the ministry, permanent connections are being studied for later this year.