en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Board of the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) approved on Thursday two compliance obligation sanctions, converting fines imposed on Claro and Sky into investments to connect public higher education institutions and federal institutes to the National Education and Research Network (RNP).

With these decisions, the agency has reached seven compliance obligations benefiting higher education this year. In the Claro case, the obligation replaced a fine equivalent to BRL 5.71 million, imposed on the operator for failing to meet coverage commitments promised in the 2.5 GHz band 4G auction. In the Sky case, after reviewing the fine amount imposed for violations of the General Consumer Protection Regulations, Anatel converted a fine of BRL 4.73 million into a compliance obligation. Since February, the Board has unanimously approved seven such sanctions, with a total unadjusted amount exceeding BRL 47 million. Anatel Board Member Octavio Pieranti stated during the Board meeting that the agency has identified 213 universities and federal institute units lacking connectivity, aiming to cover or connect most of these institutions with these resources, and plans to submit a report on the execution of the compliance obligations.

Regarding specifics, the Claro case stemmed from Anatel's oversight, which identified that the operator failed to fulfill coverage commitments stipulated in the 4G tender in nine cities, with delays in seven locations and failure to meet minimum coverage percentages in the other two. The case rapporteur, Board Member Alexandre Freire, voted to dismiss the operator's appeal and, in accordance with the Administrative Sanctions Regulation, converted the penalty into a compliance obligation, requiring the company to deploy and maintain the infrastructure needed to connect to the RNP network. The Sky case, reported by Deputy Board Member Nilo Pasquali, saw the Board partially grant the operator's appeal, reducing the original fine of BRL 10.28 million to BRL 4.73 million, and subsequently converting the penalty into a compliance obligation. Claro and Sky must, within 60 days of receiving the decision notice, inform which institutions they will cover based on a list provided by Anatel, or they may choose to convert the obligation into a monetary fine, but will lose the discounts provided for in the regulation.