Projects

Cadim de Dados: democratizing connectivity policies

In Brazil, digital exclusion is still a barrier for millions of people. Although public data on connectivity exists—such as that provided by ANATEL—this information is often too technical and inaccessible to those who need it most. Cadim de Dados was created to address this inequality and democratize the strategic use of such information.

Our goal is to make public data on connectivity more understandable and useful for social movements, vulnerable communities, and public managers. To achieve this, the project operates on two fronts: improving how ANATEL’s data is made available and expanding social engagement in the development of public policies related to internet access.

In this project, we will work on:

  • Literature review to define guidelines that make ANATEL’s data more accessible in language, format, and content;

  • Benchmarking to identify good practices in data availability from reference organizations;

  • Public event to discuss the use of data in shaping connectivity policies;

  • Focus groups to identify barriers in accessing and using ANATEL’s data;

  • Engagement with civil society to strengthen participation in data access policies and meaningful connectivity.

We believe that by transforming numbers into tools, it is possible to strengthen meaningful connectivity in Brazil and ensure that everyone can access information to claim their rights.

Start year: 2025 | Status: Ongoing
Funding: British Embassy inBrazil

Understanding the change proposed by our project

Access to information is important — this is widely recognized. But do you know who is actually able to use the data made available by public authorities? This question becomes even more urgent when we consider Brazil’s current context of digital exclusion.

Recent studies show that only 22% of the population has satisfactory internet access. In this scenario, information becomes a necessary resource to overcome the digital divide, helping to identify where public policies are lacking and what priorities must be addressed. But what happens when connectivity data is used only by those with advanced technical knowledge?

Since the Access to Information Law was enacted, public bodies are required to make their data accessible to society. However, a major barrier still exists in the actual appropriation of data—especially among groups that are not specialized in the field.

In today’s reality in Brazil, ANATEL’s connectivity dashboard presents its information in large spreadsheets and panels filled with technical jargon, making it difficult to interpret for those without specific training. As a result, the use of this data tends to remain in the hands of specialists, consultancies, and large private companies. Meanwhile, civil society organizations, rural and urban communities, and even public managers without technical backgrounds face challenges in using this data strategically.

Cadim de Dados was created to change this reality. When properly understood and strategically used by vulnerable groups and social movements, data ceases to be just numbers and becomes a real tool to strengthen meaningful connectivity in Brazil.

Gaining ownership over connectivity data is essential to support concrete actions—such as demanding service coverage from providers, identifying priority areas for infrastructure investment, and even implementing alternative access solutions like community internet networks.

We understand that this challenge must be addressed through two complementary approaches:

  1. Improving how ANATEL’s data is made available, ensuring that language, format, and content are more accessible to social movements and vulnerable groups;

  2. Expanding social engagement in the development of public policies on connectivity.

How will we put this into practice?

Our strategy is based on five core activities:

  1. Conduct research to develop guidelines that improve how ANATEL’s data is made available—focusing on clearer language, accessible formats, and relevant content for social movements and vulnerable groups;

  2. Identify and analyze good practices in data presentation and transparency from similar organizations, and compare them with ANATEL’s system;

  3. Organize a public event to foster debate on the use and ownership of connectivity data;

  4. Carry out research with focus groups to understand barriers that limit access to and appropriation of ANATEL’s data;

  5. Map and engage with public information access and connectivity data policies from ANATEL, promoting improvements.

This is a major challenge—one that relies on the experience and dedication of IRIS’s multidisciplinary team.
IRIS has been working to promote meaningful connectivity since 2015, and through Cadim de Dados, we aim to achieve a significant impact: improving the usability and accessibility of ANATEL’s internet connectivity database and increasing the participation of diverse groups in shaping public policies on this crucial issue.

Team