Football fans attending the 2014 World Cup in Brazil "will have no problem going online from stadiums," but they might want to "use a local cellphone chip to keep their charges low," according to Anthony Boadle of REUTERS. Brazilian Communications Minister Paulo Bernardo said that each of the 12 stadiums hosting 2014 World Cup matches will have "two separate 50-gigabyte networks connected to Brazil's fiber optic backbone." Bernardo: "I doubt that the stadiums will use one third of the capacity that we are installing. Not even (FIFA General Secretary) Mr. Jerome Valcke will use up all that capacity, though he could if he makes a lot of explosive statements." Valcke was "briefly declared persona non grata" by the Brazilian government last year for saying Brazil needed a "kick up the backside" to speed up preparations for the World Cup. Brazil officially "launched the latest fourth generation (4G) wireless technology this week," and the service "will be available at the stadiums and in the host cities for the Confederations Cup" (REUTERS, 5/2).
