G20 Cooperation in Research and Development in Digital Technologies

The Secretary for Informatics Policy of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications, Maximiliano Martinhão, defended the collaboration between the countries in the area of research and development in digital technologies and the sharing of best practices in digital training programs.

The statement was made during the first G20 meeting of ministers on digital policy held on 6-7 April in Dusseldorf, Germany. At the meeting, the opportunities for digitization for the creation of new jobs, digital development in industry and confidence in the digital world were discussed. "It has become clear to everyone involved in the debate that we need to work together to ensure that the opportunities of the digital revolution are best utilized by all," he said. He also noted that countries have recognized the potential of the digital economy for countries to achieve the goals of the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

Privacy, data protection and consumer protection were other issues highlighted in the discussions. "We are very pleased because Brazil is actively participating in the whole discussion, and we are aligned on important issues such as the need to stimulate the development of the Internet of Things and to support the startups as well as micro, small and medium enterprises of the Sector, "Martinhão said.

Amazon Research Institute -Reintroducing manatees in nature

The Amazon Research Institute studies the changes of five adapted manatees reintroduced to nature in this last week, further deciding the release of a larger quantity of animals which allows us to track through radio signals monitoring behaviour and movement.

Careiro, Iraê, Cairunã, Mawa and Kuana (the five manatees) were released on Lake Trapinho in the Piagaçu-Purus Sustainable Development Reserve, 175 kilometers from Manaus, after a period of adaptation in the institute’s semi-captivity.

Researcher Vera da Silva stated the success of the semi-captive system would rise if the manatees adapted to nature, henceforth releasing animals without a telemetry belt in the next reintroduction of 2018. Earlier editions of this study were less successful as the animals failed to adapt resulting in the creation of semi-captivity where manatees would remain for a year, keeping in contact with fish and turtles and a natural habit in general.

Monitored for more than 400 days, in a 13-hectare lake in Manacapuru, with satisfactory results such as weight gain, animals were exploring the environment well making the new system a fundamental success.

Monitoring

The telemetry belts are fitted with a VHF transmitter into the tails of the animals, this monitoring is important to verify the adaptation to the new conditions of life.

"With a receiver and an antenna, we can pick up a signal from the transmitters up to three kilometers away," explains biologist Diogo Souza, responsible for the Amazon Manatee Reintroduction Program. Monitoring assistant José Francisco Bastos stated the monitoring work is not easy but believes it is important to help with the preservation of the animals.

Manatee

The Amazon manatee is an animal only found in the rivers of the Amazon basin. They live for 45 years, weighing 450 kilos and measuring up to 3 meters, furthermore they are herbivores feeding only on grass and water based plants.

Manatees are solitary creatures, reproducing after 10 years of age and only every four years in the time of the drought. Only one baby is born per 12 month gestation of a female, this makes the increase in population very limited.

Mass increase in 4G Broadband access

Broadband 4G recorded 67 million hits in February, a 120% increase over the same month last year. Considering 3G internet, mobile broadband closed the month with 196.4 million accesses. Since February 2016, 37 million new 4G connections have been activated. The data comes from the Brazilian Telecommunications Association (Telebrasil). The data also shows that the number of municipalities with 4G coverage in Brazil grew 254% in the period. In all, the fourth generation networks are installed in 1,691 Brazilian cities. The current coverage exceeds by more than five times the expansion target set in the bidding documents of 288 municipalities. With this growth, 4G already reaches cities where 74% of Brazilians live. The 3G networks, in turn, are installed in 4,994 municipalities, which concentrate 98% of the Brazilian population. Also in 3G, current coverage surpasses the current target, which is 3,668 cities. Considering fixed and mobile broadband, data for February 2017 show a total of 223.3 million accesses in the country. Of these, 26.9 million are in fixed broadband, a segment that grew 5% since February last year, with 1.3 million new accesses.

Satellite and fiber to improve education and health services

The Geostationary Defense and Strategic Communications Satellite (SGDC) will improve the quality of public services in Brazilian cities. The Minister of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications, Gilberto Kassab, met with mayors of municipalities that are part of the Integrated Development Consortium of the Vale do Paraíba (Codivap). Kassab pointed out that with the SGDC, the benefits of high-speed internet for usage on Public sector "Broadband services are increasingly required, and the Geostationary Satellite has an impressive capacity to offer this product throughout the country. It will greatly help cities to offer quality services to the citizen", said the minister. The SGDC will also empowers the Intelligent Cities program, a program that offer high-speed internet free Hotspots. MCTIC will reopen the deadline for cities across the country to join the platform. "Access to the Intelligent Cities program will be very useful so that we can better manage our municipalities and give more quality in meeting the needs of citizens," he said.

Brazil launches the "National IoT Plan"

IoT National Plan consultation launched A new public consultation was opened to receive suggestions for the National Internet of Things (IoT) under the construction of the federal government. In addition to the registry, in which to participate in this consultation, stakeholders must list the five main guidelines among the product chain, competitiveness, local changes, social inclusion and empowered and connected society. This will be used to prepare the national rules and laws based on the main issues raised during discussions on the plan, hence summarizing with the aspirations of Brazil. The National IoT Plan was requested by the MCTI - Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovations and Communications - in partnership with the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES). The consortium responsible for developing the study for the plan, a group formed by the McKinsey Global Institute, the Pereira Neto Macedo Advogados and the Telecommunications Research and Development Center (CPqD), will acquire the given suggestions held in the consultation. The survey of the Internet market of Things in the world; Definition of the priority sectors of the Brazilian economy to receive investments necessary for the development of IoT; The formulation of actions aimed at accelerating the implementation of the IoT market in the country – These are the three phases in which the study was constructed.

We are back...after 5 years

This is a greetings post because we are back publishing news about investments in innovation and technology in the Brazil, private and public. I have seen many people still interested in this subject and your views and clicks made me want to continue this blog. Stay tuned...