Free internet could disrupt mobile network in election, says Anatel to STF

The National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) has warned the minister Cristiano Zanin, of Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF), that the unrestricted release of mobile internet access during the elections can cause traffic spikes capable of disrupting connectivity on mobile devices, especially in the vicinity of electoral zones.

On Thursday, Zanin had given 48 hours to Anatel to submit an opinion on a request by the National Confederation of Education Workers (CNTE) and the Partido Verde (PV) for mobile internet to be released nationwide in the 72 hours before and 24 hours after each voting round.

Among the main arguments of the request is that the limitation caused by prepaid franchises generates an inequality in access to information by the poorest layers of the population.

This is because when credit runs out, the speed of the internet is drastically reduced, with only traffic being released in business-sponsored applications, such as messaging services, for example.

For the authors of the action, this favors disinformation in the days leading up to the election, since voters are unable to check for any fake news in suitable sources on the internet.

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For Anatel, the argument does not match the reality. The agency stressed that the fight against so-called fake news involves social and regulatory challenges that do not pass through the issue of mobile connectivity.

The agency notes that a survey done by the agency itself in 2025 found that 70% of users of prepaid mobile franchises use the internet through fixed wi-fi connections, either at home or on the street, in order not to spend the prepaid franchise.

Anatel pointed out that, unlike fixed connections, which are generally via cables and can have unlimited expanded capacity, mobile connections rely on a limited spectrum of electromagnetic transmission through the air.

On the other hand, releasing traffic on specific dates can lead consumers to exponentially intensify consumption on those days, anticipating downloads and streamings, for example. The agency warns it is likely that this will lead to congestion and a signal drop.

This scenario could “lead to a collapse of telecommunications networks, hindering or preventing a large part of the population from being able to communicate adequately in a period so relevant to the country’s democracy,” Anatel said.

The body also raised a number of other technical and regulatory issues that would be obstacles to the internet’s release on mobile phones, including the argument that this would be an invasion of Anatel’s exclusive competence to govern telecommunications rules.

Before deciding on the request for an injunction (urgent and provisional decision), Minister Cristiano Zanin should receive the opinion of the Attorney General of the Republic (PGR) on the subject.

Brazil now has more than 270 million active mobile phone points. The prepaid modality represents about 35% of all mobile access in operation in the national territory, Anatel reported. A good part of the post-payments are of the "control" type, which also has limited data packets.

Elections

The first round of elections is scheduled for October 4, when voters must vote for the positions of federal, state or district deputy, governor, senator and president of the Republic.

If necessary, the second round should take place on October 25. The new round of voting may occur only in the contest for the positions of governor and president, if none of the candidates obtain more than 50% of the valid votes, excluding white and null, in the first round.

 

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