Atlas · Rural connectivity
Fewer than three in ten Brazilian farms had internet access in 2017
AnswerIn 2017, 28.19% of Brazil's 5,073,324 agricultural establishments reported internet access: 1,430,156 units, according to the IBGE Agricultural Census. The other 71.81% (3,643,168) had none.
Reviewed on 2026-10-01 · next review 2027-04-01
Data
| Indicator | Value | Unit | Source | Data date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural establishments | 5,073,324 | establishments | IBGE, 2017 Agricultural Census, table 6962 | 2017 |
| With internet access | 1,430,156 (28.19%) | establishments | IBGE, table 6962 | 2017 |
| Without internet access | 3,643,168 (71.81%) | establishments | IBGE, table 6962 | 2017 |
| Broadband connection | 659,767 | establishments | IBGE, table 6962 | 2017 |
| Mobile internet connection | 909,381 | establishments | IBGE, table 6962 | 2017 |
| Weight of mobile coverage on farmland in the IBC | 13% (rounded) | of the index | Anatel, IBC page | published 08/09/2025 |
Percentages are calculated on the table's own total of establishments. Data consulted on 2026-10-01.
Basis
- IBGE, 2017 Agricultural Census, table 6962 (SIDRA): establishments by existence of telephone, e-mail and internet and by connection type. Values read from IBGE's aggregated data API.
- Anatel, Brazilian Connectivity Index (IBC): lists the index variables, including the share of mobile coverage in areas suitable for farming, and the weight of each.
- Law No. 14,109/2020, art. 3: amends art. 1 of Law No. 9,998/2000; its paragraph 1 directs Fust funds to rural or urban regions with a low Human Development Index and provides for telecom technology-innovation policies in rural areas, coordinated by Anater.
How it applies
The Census records what the producer declared about the establishment: whether it has access, and through which connection type. It does not measure signal quality in the field. Coverage on farmland enters through a different yardstick, Anatel's IBC, which gives it a 13% weight in the municipal index. Law No. 14,109/2020 is the legal basis for Fust to fund rural connectivity.
Limits
- The access figure is from 2017, the census reference year; it does not describe the situation today.
- Broadband (659,767) and mobile internet (909,381) add up to 1,569,148, more than the 1,430,156 with access: the categories overlap and cannot be summed.
- Access at the farmstead does not mean coverage in the field.