While only 7 per cent of Latin American companies use IoT, with many more only just starting to embrace digital technology, Brazil is focussing on “The Internet of Things: an action plan for Brazil.” In fact, IoT related projects in the country are expected to bring an additional 132 billion USD by 2025.
Brazil has already established its position as a leader in IoT in the region, with 60 per cent of Brazilian companies already invested in IoT-related research and development. (1)
This position is further entrenched with 58 per cent of Brazil’s population having internet access, with over 100 million people connecting to the internet via smartphones.
Tech Companies investing in Brazil’s IoT ecosystem (1)
Foundations to IoT started with Brazil bringing 1 mbs access to all regions in the country in 2010. This infrastructure has attracted several big players in the tech industry as follows:
- Facebook which opened its first innovation centre in the world in 2017 in São Paulo, Brazil’s vibrant financial centre. The initiative provides free training to entrepreneurs and start-ups.
- Oracle also made its footprint in the same year with an innovation lab which focuses on IoT and AI projects.
- Other big players include Qualcomm which established a R7D facility to engage public-private partnerships to further develop the IoT environment in the country.
- Microsoft is recently focussing on applications of AI around mobility solutions such as mobile devices, wireless networks, and other mobile computing services
- Other companies contributing to the smart city ambitions of Brazil’s IoT are Exati, based in Curitiba, providing high tech solutions by developing a platform for a street lighting management system. Also, in Curitiba, Another company Hi Technologies provides support to health professionals through telemedicine.
Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) revenue forecasts for IoT sectors (2)
- Consultancy services in Bi Data and analytics are expected to increase by 18 per cent in 2017
- Total spend by organisations on elements including infrastructure, software and services expected to reach $3.2 billion.
- Growth of 50 per cent in cognitive computing projects
- Public cloud market (including contracts for infrastructure, platform and software as a service) expected to reach 417 billion in 2017 and almost double that by 2020.
IoT on Local level
Locally, Brazil has an increasing dedicated IoT community which is complemented by institutes of higher learning as part of the country’s strategy to connect all IoT stakeholders working towards a common goal of establishing an IoT ecosystem.
The National Telecommunications Institute (INATEL) launched a graduate program focused solely on IoT, which complements its other graduate program offered for Smart Cities.
Current Impact of IoT in Brazil (1)
As IoT becomes more inculcated into the local fabric, the population can experience further benefits. Some examples include:
- The city of Fortaleza uses Big Data to minimize bus delays and traffic jams. It has got a working partnership with the University of Arizona to develop solutions.
- Curitiba, Brazil, is developing its IoT infrastructure to offer an accessible and robust e-government platform, among other things.
- Rio de Janeiro’s Center of Operations (COR) is using Big Data to improve resilience to climate change, natural disasters, mobility, and public safety challenges.
Conclusion
Brazil continues to solidify its authority as a growing hub for IoT developments. In 2016 the country hosted the first Brazilian and Latin American Congress of the IoT was held in São Paulo, followed by the 2017 conference with over twenty top leading global tech innovators.
While it is still catching up to IoT giants like United Kingdom and South Korea, Brazil’s constant growth in the industry fosters strengthening of IoT innovations of its domestic products, export trade as well as public infrastructures. (1)
References
- http://www.urban-hub.com/ideas/brazil-embraces-the-digital-age-with-an-ambitious-internet-of-things-strategy/
- https://www.zdnet.com/article/brazilian-it-market-gathers-momentum-in-2018/
