Public WI-FI provided by the Federal Highway Police - Observatory of Public Sector Innovation

Citizens travelling on federal highways do not have fast and reliable internet access in the vicinity of the operational and administrative units of the Federal Highway Police. In many regions of Brazil, the 3G/4G internet signal is practically null, and the units of the Federal Highway Police are, in some cases, the only point with access to the world wide web. Through this project, the Government expanded free internet access for citizens in these areas by authentication via the gov.br website.

Innovation Summary

Innovation Overview

Lack of access to fast and reliable internet in the vicinity of the operational and administrative units of the Federal Highway Police has been a challenge. In many regions of Brazil, the 3G/4G internet signal is practically null, and the units of the Federal Highway Police are, in some cases, the only point with access to the world wide web. Added to this is the fact that some people simply do not have a data plan or have limited data plans, given the costs involved in contracting internet plans with personal mobile service operators.

The first problem to overcome was the development of a solution that would integrate "GOV.BR" authentication with the existing centralised wireless network management solution of the Federal Highway Police (Ruckus Controller). The second problem was to adapt the entire network infrastructure to maintain the security of the internal network of the Federal Highway Police in all units of the agency. This adequacy involves changes in the logical network infrastructure, involving changes in configurations of switches, routers and firewalls.

Innovation Description

What Makes Your Project Innovative?

By authenticating oneself via GOV.BR, access is made by the users themselves, without the need to request a password to any server and / or employee linked to the agency. Having a valid registration on the Gov.br platform suffices. Access is granted for a period of one hour. This is a low-cost initiative for the public administration, since it uses the existing information and communication technology infrastructure, and a high gain for the citizenry, since the service is completely free, secure and stable. After implementation, it will not lead to an increase in technology costs by the Federal Highway Police.

What is the current status of your innovation?

PRF-PUBLICO wi-fi network was made available in 19 of the 27 Federative Units with full implementation expected by the end of 2022.

Innovation Development

Collaborations & Partnerships

Active servants of the Federal Highway Police with specific knowledge of software development and computer network infrastructure.

Users, Stakeholders & Beneficiaries

Any citizen registered with "GOV.BR" who is travelling on federal highways and who needs fast, stable and secure access to the world wide web "internet" in places with or without public network connectivity (3G/4G). Considering the great capillarity of the Federal Highway Police throughout the national territory, serving citizens in areas without 3G/4G signal from personal mobile phone operators or who do not have a data access plan.

Innovation Reflections

Results, Outcomes & Impacts

PRF-PUBLICO wi-fi network was made available in 19 of the 27 Federative Units.

Challenges and Failures

The objective was to develop integration with the organisation's existing wi-fi management solution. The existing wi-fi controller was not open source, requiring the development of a highly complex integration solution. In addition, the solution developed had to provide security and stability in access. To overcome this barrier, we relied on the high quality and capacity of the developers involved in the action. Adaptations in the network infrastructure of all points of presence of the Federal Highway Police, including adjustments in the configurations of network switches, routers and firewalls, aiming at security and stability in Internet access, without compromising the internal network of the Federal Highway Police. This barrier is being overcome as we implement the solution developed in the federative units of the Federal Highway Police.

Conditions for Success

High quality and capacity of the developers involved in the action and sponsorship of the Federal Highway Police managers. Willingness of the staff involved to deliver quality service to society.