In Érico Guizzo’s book, Internet: What is it, what does it offer, how to connect (Editora Ática, 1999) demonstrates the history of the Internet here in Brazil, which began in September 1988. The connections were initially made in academic sector and only years later it was destined to home users and companies. The first internet access provider in the country was created in 1991, but it was not until the mid-1990s that the internet began to become popular and more accessible to the general public.
The beginning of the Brazilian internet
1988
The Internet in Brazil began in September 1988 when the National Laboratory for Scientific Computing (LNCC), located in Rio de Janeiro, gained access to Bitnet through a connection of 9,600 bits per second established with the University of Maryland.
Two months later, it was the turn of the State of São Paulo Research Support Foundation (Fapesp), which also joined Bitnet, through a connection with the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), in Chicago.
Some time later, FAPESP created the ANSP network (Academic Network at São Paulo), linking the University of São Paulo (USP), the University of Campinas (Unicamp), the São Paulo State University (Unesp) and the Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas do State of São Paulo (IPT). Later, the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRS) joined the ANSP.
1989
In May 1989, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) also joined the Bitnet network, through the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), becoming the third point of access abroad. In 1981, Ibase (Brazilian Institute of Social and Economic Analysis) was founded, autonomous and non-partisan, Ibase has always had as one of its objectives the dissemination of information to civil society. This included democratizing access to computer networks in the country.
In the mid-1980s, Ibase joined an international project called Interdoc. Its purpose was the use of electronic mail for the exchange of information between NGOs (non-governmental organizations) around the world. Dozens of entities from Africa, Latin America, Asia and Europe participated in the project. However, the use of this system was still extremely expensive. It was necessary to find alternative means to facilitate this international connection and reduce communication costs.
Alternex, an international messaging and electronic conference service pioneer in the country. Through Alternex it was possible to exchange messages with several electronic mail systems around the world, including the Internet. Alternex was, therefore, the first Brazilian Internet access service outside the academic community.
The Brazilian wants to connect
The situation remained like this until mid-1994, when the Internet crossed academic boundaries and began to reach the ear of many Brazilians. On July 17 of that year, the newspaper Folha de S.Paulo dedicated the Sunday edition of its section Mais! to the “superinfoway of the future”. And he announced: “a new form of communication is born that will connect millions of people on a planetary scale by computer”.
Near the end of 1994, the Brazilian government – which until then had done little for the Internet in Brazil – announced, through the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Communications, its intention to invest in the new technology. Embratel and RNP were in charge of creating the necessary structure for the commercial exploitation of the Internet.
At the end of 1994, Embratel started its Internet access service on an experimental basis. Five thousand users were chosen to test the service. A few months later, in May 1995, Internet access via Embratel began to work permanently. But Embratel’s exclusivity in the end-user access service displeased the private sector. It was feared that Embratel and other telecommunications companies would dominate the market, creating a state-owned internet monopoly in Brazil.
In view of this, the Ministry of Communications made public the government’s position that there would be no monopoly and that the Internet services market in Brazil would be as open as possible.
Also at this time, the Internet Brazil Management Committee was created, with the objective of tracing the paths of implementation, administration and use of the Internet in the country. Members of the Ministry of Communications and the Ministry of Science and Technology, representatives of providers and service providers connected to the Internet, and representatives of users and the academic community would participate in the Steering Committee. The Management Committee would also have the following main attributions: to promote the development of Internet services in Brazil, recommend standards and technical and operational procedures, in addition to collecting, organizing and disseminating information about Internet services.
Despite the promising market, things continued like this, somewhat shaky, throughout the year of 1995. Embratel and the Ministry of Communications did not facilitate the initiatives of private providers: the necessary structure was not fully implemented and there were uncertainties about the prices to be charged. charged. Even so, a dozen providers were already operating by the end of 1995 connected to the Internet through Embratel. Others, such as IBM and Unisys, began to roll out their own international connections.
The Internet takes off in the country
The great network boom took place throughout 1996. A little due to the improvement in the services provided by Embratel, but mainly due to the natural growth of the market, the Brazilian Internet grew vertiginously, both in number of users and providers and services provided through from the Web.
One of the proofs that the Internet had really taken off in Brazil came on December 14, 1996, when Gilberto Gil launched his song Pela Internet through the network itself, singing an acoustic version of the song live and talking to Internet users about your relationship with the Internet.
The Marco Civil da Internet is a Brazilian law that regulates the use of the internet in the country. This law was passed in 2014 and aims to guarantee freedom of expression, privacy and security on the internet. The Marco Civil establishes principles and guidelines for the use of the internet in Brazil, and covers topics such as net neutrality, record keeping, civil and criminal liability, among others.
Average internet speed in Brazil
In 2015 Netflix did a survey based on its users, it showed that the average speed of people was 3.32 Mbps. According to the SpeedTest website, a platform where people’s internet speeds are analysed, the site accumulates an average of 100.95 Mbps, consulted now in 2023, this makes Brazil occupy the 28th in the world ranking.
When we talk about mobile speed, used in smartphones, Brazil has an average speed of 36.07Mbps, occupying the 58th position in the Ranking.
Brazilians cannot live without internet
Today, the internet is a fundamental part of Brazilians’ lives. Approximately 70% of the population has access to the internet, and this percentage is growing every year. The internet is used for various purposes such as education, work, leisure, entertainment and communication. The internet has also been fundamental to the country’s economic development, creating new business opportunities and jobs.
In summary, the beginning of the internet in Brazil was marked by limitations and difficulties, but over the years and investment in public policies and technologies, the internet has become a fundamental tool for the lives of Brazilians. Today, the internet is essential for the country’s economic and social development and plays an important role in the daily lives of millions of people.
