en.Wedoany.com Reported - Brazil's Ministry of Communications (Ministério das Comunicações) has selected 30 companies to provide internet connectivity to 1,983 Basic Health Units (UBS), with project funding from the Telecommunications Services Universalization Fund (Fust) under a direct application model. Claro and Vivo emerged as the main winners in this tender, while several regional operators also secured shares.
The number of UBS selected this time accounts for nearly 52% of the over 3,800 units included in the public tender held in May. The investment for this plan is 45 million reais, with total available funds of 104 million reais, and connectivity work is expected to be completed by June 2027. Under the Fust direct application model, operators can reduce their contributions to the fund by up to 50% by investing in government projects. The final results of the tender process for UBS (Tender Notice No. 238/2026) were approved this week.
In this tender, the Ministry of Communications achieved, for the first time, more effective participation of small operators (PPPs) in the direct application model, changing the previous dominance of large contributing companies. Claro was the largest individual participant in this tender, committing to connect over 1,300 UBS, accounting for two-thirds of the total. It was followed by Vivo, connecting 471 units, and TIM, connecting 51 units. Zaaz, DTel, Algar, and Desktop also appeared on the list of 30 winners.
In a statement on Friday (3rd), the Ministry of Communications said that the winning companies' bids offered an average discount of 14.9% relative to the government's initial estimated value. After the results were announced on June 30, the Ministry summoned the winning companies to sign the corresponding accession terms within seven days, with a deadline of next Tuesday (7th).
Geographically, the Northeast region concentrated the highest number of selected UBS, totaling 923, followed by the Southeast region with 623 units. The North, South, and Central-West regions will connect 198, 141, and 98 units, respectively. The project scope includes implementing and maintaining internet connectivity (external network and internal connection), along with 24 months of maintenance and technical support.
This is the third tender under the Fust direct application model and the first focused on the health sector. The results of two tenders in 2024 and 2025 secured connectivity contracts for 17,000 public schools. The Ministry of Communications stated that the plan will enable these units to expand the use of electronic medical records, conduct teleconsultations, and integrate health information systems, providing faster and continuous services to the population. To support the tender's development, the Ministry of Health surveyed UBS lacking connectivity or with insufficient internet access and established minimum speed and Wi-Fi technical specifications to ensure connectivity meets health service needs.
Ana Estela Haddad, Secretary of Health Information and Digital Health at the Ministry of Health, said in a statement that extending connectivity to nearly 2,000 UBS is an important step so that the Unified Health System (SUS) can reach those most in need with Fust funds. Minister of Communications Frederico de Siqueira Filho emphasized that providing connectivity to UBS means shortening distances, facilitating access to specialists through telemedicine, and ensuring patients' medical histories are accessible on doctors' screens.
