On January 20, the Brazilian National Research and Educational Network (RNP) took part in a workshop promoted by the government of the State of Bahia to discuss the expansion of the telecommunications infrastructure in the state. The event, held at the auditorium of the State Planning Department (Seplan), in the City of Salvador, gathered deans and representatives of the state and federal teaching institutions. The highlight of RNP’s presentation was the Veredas Novas (New Paths) Program, which is intended to connect in high speed all of the campuses of the countryside, of public universities and technology institutes in Brazil.

In the State of Bahia, the goal is for RNP to develop a project able to expand the infrastructure of access to the education and research network in the state, by means of a managing committee together with the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (Secti). According to RNP’s general director, Nelson Simões, the project “is a set of services that, based on distance collaboration, will simplify the lives of students and teachers”.

Emphasizing the importance of the project for the State of Bahia, the head of Secti, Manoel Mendonça, stated that the local providers help, but the arrival of high-speed Internet will result in social and economic growth, benefitting not only the teaching institutions. “We are going to plan this network together, for the State of Bahia. We will operate Veredas Novas in a manner that benefits our state”.

Technical cooperation

Other actions presented by Secti include technical cooperation agreements entered into with city, state and federal bodies, the creation of a broadband steering committee and the mapping out of digital cities – those that already have good optical rings in the state. “Mapping out is the beginning of this process. We will not stop until all schools and universities are connected”, said the RNP’s adjunct director of Solutions Management, Gorgônio Araújo.

The dean of the Federal University of the South of Bahia (UFSB), Naomar de Almeida Filho, also submitted data and referred to the need to bring broadband to the campuses. The development manager of the State University of Feira de Santana (Uefs), Marijalma Oliveira, stressed the importance of initiatives such as these for the universities. “The Veredas Novas project will be very good for us”.

Deans João Carlos Salles, from the Federal University of Bahia (Ufba); Silvio Luiz Soglia, from the Federal University of Recôncavo of Bahia (UFRB); Iracema Veloso, from the Federal University of the West of Bahia (Ufob); José Bites, from the State University of Bahia (Uneb); Adélia Pinheiro, from the State University of Santa Cruz (Uesc); and Norma Almeida, vice-dean of Uefs, were also present at the meeting. The Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of the State of Bahia (IFBaiano) was represented by Professor Denilson Sodré, while Professor André Ferreira represented the Federal Institute of Bahia (Ifba).

Source: Ascom/Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (Secti/BA)

Photo: Manoel Mendonça.