Delivering innovation and speed of connectivity to public school students is one of the main objectives of the Internet Brasil Program. The initiative carried out by the National Education and Research Network will provide free mobile broadband to public school students. For this, RNP is using a new technology: the e-SIM Card, known as a “neutral chip” as it is not linked to any operator.

The difference to the conventional chip is that the neutral chip comes with an integrated circuit, which can be activated or deactivated from the RNP central, allowing the remote change of operator, in case of need. If the service provided does not have the expected stability in a given region, for example, it is possible to activate another operator participating in the program, without needing a new physical chip.

Hélder Vitorino de Souza, responsible for the project and Solutions manager at RNP, emphasizes, however, that the change of operator will be an exception, not the rule. The change can only be made if there is notification of unstable connectivity. RNP will act to guarantee stability both for the benefited students and for the service providers.

“The change will only be made when the service is not adequate. If, due to instability, we change from a service provider A to B and the problem is solved, there is no reason to make a new change”, he highlights.

Digital inclusion inside and outside schools

Internet Brazil, promoted by the Ministry of Communications (MCom), with support from the Ministry of Education (MEC) and executed by RNP, intends to expand digital inclusion inside and outside public basic education units. Benefiting around 10,000 students in this first stage, the initiative is in the Proof of Concept phase (a kind of pilot project) in 15 schools in six cities in the Northeast: Caicó (RN), Campina Grande (PB), Caruaru (PE), Juazeiro (BA), Mossoró (RN) and Petrolina (PE). The PoC, as this phase is known, will help RNP to better understand the technical aspects of the program, in addition to encouraging new operating and business models.

As the change between operators can only be done by RNP, Hélder claims that communication between students, schools, departments of Education and RNP is essential. Thus, with the assessment of users, it will be possible to adapt the quality of the internet supply, allowing access without obstacles.

“Feedback will help us to understand the students and their families, because we want to offer students an excellent experience”, he explains.

With a nationwide impact action, the benefit is intended for students from families registered in the Single Registry for Social Programs, CadÚnico. To be entitled to a monthly 20GB chip, in addition to being registered in CadÚnico, one must: be a basic education student, starting in the 3rd year of the public school system; having access to one's cell phone or that of a family member; and not having a chip from other government programs.