Power utility Electrosul, part of the Brazilian state-run holding group Eletrobras, has inked a deal with Telebras under which the pair will jointly develop broadband services in south Brazil as part of the National Broadband Plan (PNBL). In brief, the pair will use the partnership agreement to promote technical cooperation in the reciprocal use of services and the corresponding integration of infrastructure telecommunications in the region. Electrosul has released a statement in which it said the technical details of the plan still need to be ironed out, but that a southern ring will link Campinas (Sao Paulo) with Gravatai, in Rio Grande do Sul, in the process connecting the interior of Parana and Santa Catarina and returning along the coast via the cities of Florianopolis and Curitiba – close to the point of departure in Sao Paulo. It is understood that Telebras and Electrosul hope the interior portion of the ring will go live in 1Q12, with the coastal link following in 2H12. The contract provides for the transfer of five pairs of dark fibre in 1,385km of Eletrosul’s lines.
Commenting on the plan, Telebras chairman Caio Bonilha said: ‘The participation of Eletrosul is vital in the design of this ring that will cover about 400 municipalities. The main backbone of the south will use the framework of Eletrosul and Petrobras. The lines of the State Electricity Company of Rio Grande do Sul (CEEE) and Sulgas (Gas Company of Rio Grande do Sul) will complement the service.’