Jan 8, 2013

• Project to purchase R$ 1.4 billion in domestic facilities, of which 55% is from suppliers that invest in innovation in Brazil
• In the mobile network, the aim is to improve quality, bring 3G coverage to new  municipalities and implement 4G in the main cities in Brazil

The BNDES has approved R$ 5.4 billion in financing for the Oi Group, earmarked for the 2012-2014 investment plan. The project includes investments to expand and improve the installed capacity of the data access network (broadband), land-line and mobile, as well as the infrastructure of cable TV, besides investments in information technology.

The Bank’s financing is to support the purchase of R$ 1.4 billion in domestic facilities, of which 55% (R$ 675 million) is from suppliers that invest in innovation in Brazil. The effort will contribute to strengthening a major sector in technology, which demands constant investment in research, development and innovation.

In land lines, investments will be aimed at finalizing the migration to NGN technology (Next Generation Network) especially aimed at data, voice and media transmission. Improvements in network access are also planned, with the implementation of technology aimed at increasing the connection speed, based on fiber optics.

In the mobile segment, the aim is to improve quality in areas which already have coverage and to increase the coverage of 3G mobile internet services for new municipalities, besides implementing 4G technology in the main cities in Brazil.

The Bank will finance 34% of the project’s total investment, which accounts for R$ 15.9 billion and will contribute to creating some 4,700 jobs by December 2014.

Social investments – The BNDES will finance investments in the amount of R$ 27 million for the Oi group in social programs, developed by the Oi Futuro Institute for projects related to education and culture.

One of the main educational programs of Oi Futuro is the Advanced Education Center, which aims at preparing young people to work in new technology, by using game programming, script development  and web design as learning tools.

The program is developed in partnership with state governments, currently those in Rio de Janeiro and in Pernambuco. The cultural projects aim mostly at maintaining the cultural centers and museums already supported by Oi Futuro.