Title: Manufacturing telecommunications in Brazil: from leading edge to maquilas

Authors: Anil Hira; Luciana Thibau M. Da Rocha Socorro

Addresses: Political Science, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada. ' Picushof 124, Eindhoven 5613SE, The Netherlands

Abstract: Brazil had the preconditions for the development of a national manufacturing capability in wireless phones. The weak performance of state-run phone system created pent up demand for wireless telecommunications. Pro-active government policies helped to build a research and development capacity, including a successful switching technology. However, incoherence in policies led to eventual failure of efforts to create national production. Brazil is now a maquila manufacturer, largely involved in labour-intensive assembly operations for foreign multinationals with few local development linkages. Brazil's experience provides a cautionary tale for the importance of consistent policies, for locating the appropriate relationship between public and private sectors in consonance with opportunities provided by technological and market cycles.

Keywords: Brazil; wireless technology; wireless communications; telecommunications; public-private partnerships; PPPs; technological cycles; privatisation; research and development; R&D; indigenous capacity; manufacturing capability; cell phones; mobile phones; mobile communications.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTG.2012.045298

International Journal of Technology and Globalisation, 2012 Vol.6 No.1/2, pp.109 - 127

Published online: 31 Oct 2014 *

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