Alcoa, Brazilian Telecom Company Bringing 4G Coverage to Remote Amazon Communities

4G coverage has already benefited around 1,000 people in communities in western Pará, Brazil, including three schools and a satellite health unit. The action is an offshoot of the companies' partnership that began in 2021 

Alcoa teamed up with a large telecom company to bring coverage to around 1,000 residents of remote regions of Juruti – in western Pará, Brazil.  

The 4G coverage, including phone and internet services, is a result of the partnership with TIM Brasil – which has the largest mobile network in Brazil and is a leader in 4G. It also provides new opportunities for families in the region to access education and health services, benefiting the communities of Prudente, Batata, Surval, Maravilha, Alto Alegre and São Raimundo do Mentai. 

Bringing 4G connectivity to a remote region with no previous internet access was made possible by TIM's innovative Flextower mobile solution, which includes two antennas with an average coverage of up to four kilometers, photovoltaic panels and a long-lasting battery bank – allowing the system to function all day without connecting to the electricity grid.

“Providing connectivity means promoting inclusion, education and growth,” said Marcio Fávero, Alcoa Brazil's purchasing director. “We want the impact of this strategic partnership to be long-lasting and capable of transforming the local reality in a positive and sustainable way. 

“Connectivity means that young people and adults now have access to a world of information that was previously difficult to access or even inaccessible to some.” 

Anderlon Canto, a resident of the Prudente community, is one of those already benefiting from the high-speed connection. 

“Now we can call, make video calls, do banking operations, all while lying on our network,” Canto said. “It's improved the signal for accessing the internet, for doing my children's school research. My eldest daughter is now studying for a degree online.” 

“TIM was chosen by Alcoa for its experience in enabling digital transformation in various market segments and regions of the country and, above all, for its mission to support social and digital inclusion – since it is the operator with the largest mobile network in Brazil,” said TIM Brazil Director of Corporate Solutions Paulo Humberto Gouvea. “Our challenge is to always come up with innovative solutions that allow us to bring the same technology from the city to areas that are difficult to access, such as the remote communities of the Amazon. 

“We are very happy with this important development in our partnership with our client Alcoa.” 

Izaías Rodrigues Vitor, president of the Association of Communities of Gleba Curumucuri (Acoglec), said having access to the internet is a change in quality of life. 

“Being connected, being able to talk to people, these are activities that seem very simple, but for our community it was something very far away,” Vitor said. “Now it's our reality.” 

In 2024, Alcoa Juruti celebrated 15 years of operations, with a track record of innovation, socio-environmental responsibility and regional development. Since then, it has invested more than R$ 81 million ($13 million USD) in projects focused on developing the region. 

Learn more about Alcoa Brazil.

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