en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Brazilian government's Norte Conectado (Northern Connected) program has entered a new operational phase and begun expanding beyond Brazil's borders. By deploying underwater fiber optic networks in the Amazon River basin, the project aims to replace reliance on radio links and satellite connections with high-capacity terrestrial networks.
Brazil's Minister of Communications, Federico de Siqueira Filho, revealed during a project progress briefing that Colombia and Peru have expressed interest in holding dialogues on future fiber optic network integration in border areas. This could open new international connection routes to the Pacific Ocean and enhance the resilience of Amazon digital infrastructure.
According to Convergencia Digital, the timeline released by Brazil's Ministry of Communications shows the project transitioning from the construction phase to commercial operations. Infovía 03 (Information Channel 03) has already entered commercial operation, Infovía 04 will begin operations on July 2, and Infovía 02 will launch in the same month. Additionally, cable laying for Infovía 05 will commence on July 6, advancing what the Brazilian government defines as the world's largest underwater fiber optic system.
The infrastructure utilizes the Amazon River channel to lay fiber optic cables, each containing 24 fiber pairs with a capacity of 4 Tbps per fiber, achieving a total capacity of up to 96 Tbps. This aims to reduce disruptions, expand broadband coverage, and strengthen networks for operators, public institutions, and end users.
The project began in 2015 under the Amazonía Conectada (Connected Amazon) initiative and later evolved into the Programa Amazonía Integrada y Sostenible (Integrated and Sustainable Amazon Program). Currently, the project comprises nine Infovías, with a total fiber optic length of approximately 13,200 kilometers, over 900 public access points, covering 70 communities across the states of Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Pará, Rondônia, and Roraima, with a goal of benefiting approximately 7.5 million people. Project objectives include expanding high-speed internet access, reducing service costs, and improving connectivity for schools, hospitals, and public institutions.
The complete Infovías include: Infovía 00 connecting Macapá to Santarém, serving 5 communities via a 769-kilometer underwater fiber optic cable; Infovía 01 connecting Santarém to Manaus, serving 11 communities via a 1,054-kilometer cable; Infovía 02 connecting Manaus to Atalaia do Norte, passing through 20 communities with a total fiber optic infrastructure length exceeding 2,000 kilometers; Infovía 03 connecting Belém to Macapá, serving 6 communities via a 779-kilometer fiber optic cable; and Infovía 04 connecting Manaus to Boa Vista, serving 6 communities via infrastructure spanning over 1,100 kilometers.
The Brazilian government also positions the project as a model for sustainable digital infrastructure. According to the Ministry of Communications, using cables installed in the riverbed avoids creating new terrestrial corridors, reduces vegetation damage, and enables infrastructure expansion while protecting the Amazon rainforest.
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