Rio de Janeiro (03 July 2014) - Brazil has met the demand for high volume and high quality connectivity during the 2014 FIFA World Cup through R$ 1.6 billion in public and private investments in telecommunications infrastructure and R$ 171 million in regulatory services investments in the sector. The tournament has been nicknamed the “Social Media World Cup” or the “World Cup of Selfies,” as a data volume equivalent to 38.5 million photos had already been sent from Brazil’s stadiums as of the end of the round of sixteen, according to data released this week by telecom operators. 

According to the National Union of Fixed and Mobile Telecom Companies of Brazil (SindiTelebrasil), the data being transmitted at peak usage times in the stadiums is equivalent to 8,000 pictures being sent per minute. The number is based on an average sized 0.55 MB photo and includes data sent via both mobile networks and Wi-Fi hotspots installed in the stadiums by various Internet service providers. As for voice services, 3.3 million phone calls have been made since the beginning the tournament.

In addition to ensuring 2G, 3G and 4G mobile data availability in the host cities, the investments have ensured high levels of bandwidth available for broadcasting services. Telebras (the Brazilian telecom infrastructure company) and Brazil’s private telecommunication carriers have invested R$ 100 million and R$ 1.5 billion, respectively, in expanding the country’s fiber optic network; the latter based on commitments made with the federal government during wireless spectrum auctions for telecom services. Another R$ 171 million has been invested by the Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) to monitor and supervise private mobile telecom and broadband service providers.

Telebras installed a 15,280 kilometer-long optic fiber ring, using state-of-the-art equipment developed in Brazil, to transmit high-definition footage of the matches between the arenas and the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) in Rio de Janeiro. Telebras broadcasted the 48 group phase matches of the World Cup without any issues related to the fiber optic network.

This infrastructure will remain as a legacy after the World Cup, boosting the supply of high-speed Internet service throughout Brazil and ensuring the provision of services to regions where availability has previously been limited, such as the north of the country. 

Investments by Telecommunications Carriers

The winners of the spectrum auction were contractually obligated to provide 2G, 3G and 4G mobile data connectivity in the stadiums. The winning carriers reported investments of R$ 200 million to comply with that mandate, according to Brazil’s Ministry of Communications.

A total of 4,738 antennas have been installed in the stadiums by carriers, who have partnered to implement mobile broadband service in the arenas and have invested R$ 226 million in the project, according to SindiTelebrasil. Although there is no requirement for providing Wi-Fi service inside or outside stadiums, the government mediated negotiations between ISPs and the administrators of the stadiums so that Wi-Fi could be provided as an alternative to Internet access in the event of possible congestion of the 3G network. Brazil’s ISPs are offering about 120,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in the 12 host cities, according to SindiTelebrasil.

Private companies have also invested R$ 1.3 billion in the host cities of the World Cup to expand telecommunications infrastructure by an average of 28 percent. This includes the deployment of 4G connectivity, as required in the auction organized by Anatel, as well as about 15,000 new 3G and 4G antennas installed in the 12 host cities since the beginning of 2013.  

Public Sector Telecommunications Investments
In addition to investments in telecommunications infrastructure and the R$ 171 million invested by Anatel to supervise private telecom and broadband services, the federal government has invested in additional services. The additional investments include R$ 110 million spent to broadcast the World Cup matches, R$ 14 million in IT services for the training base camps of the competing national teams and R$ 33 million in video, audio and IT services developed for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. Combined with the R$ 100 million invested by Telebras, these public-sector investments total R$ 428 million. 

Connected Cup: Data and Voice Transmission during the Group Phase Matches

Source: SindiTelebrasil 

For more information, visit:
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www.copa2014.gov.br/en/cam (English)

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