The RNP published the Term of Reference (TR) for Infovia 01, which will connect Santarém (PA) to Manaus by optical fiber. The document brings all the information for the formation process of the Open Consortium of the Neutral Operator of the new infovia. The TR thus establishes the conditions for qualifying and selecting legal entities interested in joining the consortium responsible for operating, maintaining and commercially exploiting this infrastructure. 

Unlike what happened on Infovia 00 (Macapá-Santarém), a pilot project of the Sustainable Integrated Amazon Program (PAIS), the optical infrastructure is not being implemented by RNP. This responsibility will fall to the Managing Entity of the Redistribution and Digitization Process of TV and RTV Channels (EAS/Seja Digital), as established in ANATEL judgment No. 242, of June 28, 2021. RNP will only act as manager of Infovia 01, following the guidelines of the PAIS-Norte Conectado Program Management Committee. 

Infovia 01 will have 1,100 km of sub-fluvial optical cable

The Infovia Santarém-Manaus will be approximately 1,100 km long. The main route (also called trunk route) between the two Amazon cities will have openings in Óbidos (PA), Juriti (PA), Parintins (AM), Urucurituba (AM) and Itacoatiara (AM). There will also be three derivations, as can be seen in the map below: between Óbidos and Oriximiná (PA); between Juriti and Terra Santa (PA); and between Itacoatiara and Autazes (AM).

When its implementation is completed, Infovia 01 will have an optical cable containing 48 optical fibers (or 24 pairs). The cable will be laid in the bed of the Amazon River, connecting the ten cities mentioned above. The region has just over 3 million inhabitants. 

How the Neutral Operator Open Consortium works

By decision of the PAIS Management Committee, RNP, as manager, will transfer up to 3/4 of the infrastructure to the Neutral Operator. This means that 18 of the 24 fiber optic pairs will be given to the private sector. On the other hand, the Neutral Operator must operate and maintain the entire infrastructure, guaranteeing the stability of the enterprise. The public sector will have the right to use its part of the infrastructure - that is, the remaining 6 pairs - in a non-burdensome way, without having to bear the costs of operation or maintenance.

The consortium may have a minimum of three and a maximum of 12 legal entities. Each consortium member will have the right to commercially explore its optical fiber pair, independently of the other consortium members. The Consórcio Aberto, a group of consortium members, will jointly operate and maintain Infovia 01.

In addition to legal entities providing telecommunications services, companies that provide monitoring and sensing services may exceptionally participate in the consortium.

A novelty in relation to the Term of Reference of Infovia 00 is that criteria were created for the classification of bidding legal entities, by sum of points. Thus, if there are more than 12 qualified companies, those with the highest score in four criteria defined by the Management Committee will be chosen. For example, bidders who are already part of the Infovia 00 Consortium will score higher.

For more information, see the full Terms of Reference here.

About PAIS-Norte Conectado

The PAIS-Norte Conectado program, of the Ministry of Communications, provides for the construction of eight optical info-ways, forming a high-capacity, low-latency network, based mostly on sub-fluvial optical cables laid in the beds of rivers in the Amazon.