While 6G research is important, the pressing priority in Brazil is to deliver 5G. That is the direction the federal government is adopting, according to Brazilian Minister of Communications Juscelino Filho.

“Technological advancement is always a priority, but our number one goal today is to conclude the 5G deployment,” Filho told 6GWorld at Futurecom 2024 in São Paulo, Brazil.

According to the minister, the government follows a timetable and wants to make 5G widely available “as soon as possible.”

“We know how important it is and how much [5G] can impact the evolution of new services and new opportunities,” he said.

Does that mean there are no plans for 6G? Not quite, the minister guaranteed.

Filho emphasised how regulators can help enable a dynamic framework for when 6G is around. “Technology always advances at a fast pace. Sometimes, legislation doesn’t keep up with the advancements and ends up making it more difficult for these technologies to be available to people.”

In Brazil, such a task is a matter for Anatel, the country’s regulator. “We have been trying to collaborate with the agency. Brazil is a model for the world in terms of regulations. And this is where we are always working closely with Anatel so that we can advance [in 6G] and make it available for all,” he finished.

Efforts in the 6G Arena

Although Brazil is not at the forefront of 6G development, the country has been engaging in international collaboration. An example is the partnership between Inatel and the 6GFlagship.

Currently, the flagship initiative Brasil 6G comprises ten research institutions under the coordination of Inatel.

Overall, the joint effort will have received BRL 21.3 million (USD 4.3 million) by the end of its duration. The lion’s share – BRL 16.3 million (USD 3.3 million) is dedicated to the second phase of the program.

Other federal agencies have been backing up 6G research beyond the flagship program – including the country’s oldest public funding entity, the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).

According to the CNPq’s database, beyond the flagship initiative, 15 academic projects – specifically about 6G – are receiving money from the public body. Together, they total BRL 650,484 (USD 131,773) since 2021.

Featured image by the Ministry of Communications of Brazil