In late 2008, an intrepid team set out to discover how mobiles could improve the lives of the poorest rural Brazilians. They found a real need for connectivity and proved the business case for operators.
Venturing into some of Brazil's poorest parts, a team of engineers and marketers has discovered how modern communications can transform rural dwellers' lives. Expedition Brazil Connected trekked 5,000 km across remote countryside setting up mobile coverage in communities with no or very limited access to communications.
"We wanted to prove that it is possible to offer affordable voice and Internet connectivity to these communities, and to demonstrate a valid business case for operators. We revealed to all stakeholders how people can benefit from such initiatives," explains Ricardo Silva, regional Head of Strategic Marketing, Nokia Siemens Networks.
The team carried a small cellular package based on the Nokia Siemens Networks Village Connection solution. The GSM and IP-based Village Connection solution offers affordable mobile voice and data coverage to rural areas. It eliminates traditional network hierarchies, reducing the need for costly transmission and minimizing both CAPEX and OPEX. The solution also introduces a new business model with local entrepreneurs running the village network.
The expedition team traveled during September and October 2008, setting up a temporary network in each community and distributing 30 mobile phones to locals to use for a week.
Making lives better
"We have many emotional stories of how the mobiles and broadband access helped people from all walks of life. Gúbia Queiroz is a healthcare agent who visits households in the fight against the deadly Chagas disease spread by the barber insect. Gúbia often walks long distances to people's houses only to find they are not in. The mobile phone would allow her to schedule visits, saving her much time and effort," Silva says.
Silva tells of a farmer who takes his produce 30 km without knowing if he will be able to sell it. With a mobile phone he could call to find the best place to sell before traveling. And of children discovering the huge amount of information on the Internet that would help them in their school work. The stories are numerous.
"It is incredible how much connectivity can improve lives," says Silva. "Sometimes it was heart-rending when the team packed up their equipment and left a community. Having seen the possibilities, people were asking when they could have their own phones, desperate for the benefits they can bring."
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