These days, it's difficult to survive without an internet connection. Fortunately, internet coverage is pretty good in most regions of Brazil these days. It's easily accessible if you have a computer or a mobile phone. There are more options than ever before, and therefore, prices have come down a bit. Speeds may be a bit more erratic than the usual and outages a bit more common, but in metropolitan areas, service is adequate to good. In recent years, the speed's improved massively.
Getting connected in Brazil
You can sign up for internet service by itself or as part of a package that includes television and a landline. Different packages are available, and new ones come out now and then. You can get solid internet service for around R$120 (Brazilian reals) per month, and a package (including phone and television) beginning at around B$200 per month. Definitely shop around, as internet service providers (ISPs) run deals frequently.
Useful links:
To get an internet connection in Brazil, you can visit any branch of an ISP with your identification documents, which should include your CPF (taxpayer's ID number) and proof of address. Contracts are typically for one year. Some ISPs require you to pay a fine if you terminate your contract before its expiration date. If you don't have the necessary documents, prepaid options are sometimes available.
You can also buy a portable 4G USB dongle if you don't want to subscribe. This modem has a SIM card allowing you to connect to the internet anywhere across the country. You simply have to buy credits as needed. You can purchase these either through an ISP or a cell phone company such as Claro and Vivo.
Good to know:
Netflix is very popular in Brazil and is a great way to watch TV shows and movies for a monthly subscription. It's cheaper than any television package offered by an ISP. Plus, you can watch shows in English, with Portuguese subtitles to improve your skills!
Wifi
Free wifi is slowly becoming more prevalent in Brazil. You can connect to the internet from some beaches in Rio, and open-access wifi is also available in many restaurants, shopping malls, and major airports. However, you often first have to register, and access is limited to one hour.
LAN Houses
If you don't have a computer or mobile phone, you can access the internet in a cyber café or LAN house. However, these are becoming less common, as more and more Brazilians have internet access in their homes. Rates are generally low, between B$2 to B$5 per hour.
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