Teles prepare themselves for popular Internet in SP
Valor Econômico
While a model for the national broadband plan is debated with the Federal Government, the telephone operators seem to have had an old request of the sector granted: the reduction of the tax burden. The Governor of São Paulo, José Serra, signed yesterday a decree exempting from the collection of the State Sales and Services Tax (ICMS) the offer of a broadband service plan called Popular Broadband. The ceremony was held at the Futurecom event, which ends today in São Paulo.
The measure makes official a decision taken by the Monetary Policy Council (Confaz) in April, which released the States of São Paulo and Pará, besides the Federal District, from collecting the tax on packages of up R$ 30 (US$ 17.4). In São Paulo, the plan will cost R$ 29.80 (US$ 17.3) with speeds that may vary from 200 Kbps to 1 Mbps, depending on the interest of the operators. They are also allowed to charge less for the service.
The offer includes the price of the modem, installation service and provider. According to Governor José Serra, the purpose is to achieve 2.5 million domiciles in the State that access the internet through dial-up connection or that simply do not surf the net. "There isn't an expectation with regard to the extent of the tax waiver because this is a revenue which still does not exist", says Serra. The State of São Paulo foresees to collect R$ 534 million (US$ 310.5 million) this year with the ICMS collected from broadband services.
Telefônica was the first company to adhere to the Popular Broadband program. The operator plans on selling a 250 Kbps plan as of November 9. Net, TIM, Claro and Oi informed they will evaluate the proposal. At Vivo, Roberto Lima, the CEO of the operator, says the expectation is to have the popular plan before Christmas. Regardless of the Governor having affirmed the popular plan will not require customer fidelity, Lima it is not possible to think about an offer of the sort without the maximum affiliation for 12 months defined by the National Agency of Telecommunications (Anatel). The executive also affirmed the bill of the popular package would close easier if the operators could keep the client on their base for a period of up to 24 months, as it happens in the United States.