In Brazil, nearly 100 cities in Rio Grande do Sul will retain public payphones until 2028 due to lack of cellular coverage, highlighting the challenges of maintaining traditional communication infrastructure in the modern age.
In Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul, a significant number of public payphones, known as orelhões, will remain operational in 97 municipalities until December 2028. This measure is a result of the Federal Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) mandating their retention in areas lacking mobile phone coverage. Current statistics show that there are still 155 mandatory public phones in the state; 59 are active, 74 are under maintenance, and 22 do not have updated information regarding their status.
Marcos Carozza, a manager at Anatel, explained that the companies providing telecommunications services are required to maintain these payphones only in localities where there are no alternative voice communication services, such as cellular telephony. Despite the national trend towards removal of these public phones, the Anatel's regulation helps preserve a vital means of communication for residents in these isolated areas. The last payphones in more urban settings, like Porto Alegre, are in poor condition, with only three remaining, all reported to be vandalized and out of service.
This situation underscores the challenges faced by rural areas in Brazil, where modern communication methods have yet to become fully accessible for everyone. The persistence of payphones serves as a reminder of the digital divide and the necessity for inclusive policies that ensure everyone has access to essential communication services. As technology advances, it raises questions about the viability and future of traditional communication infrastructures in these disconnected regions.
