Politics · Brazil · 5 hrs ago
Brazil's Senate approves Claro for a R$4.95 million cellphone contract
Brazil's Senate has approved Claro to provide phones and service to lawmakers and Senate staff under a R$4.95 million contract.
The plan covers 95 iPhone 18 Pro devices and 330 phones from Samsung and Motorola.
The phones will be provided temporarily, rather than bought outright, and the contract is set to run for four years.
Claro won the bidding with an offer about R$1.09 million below the Senate's initial estimate of R$6.04 million.
The plan drew criticism over public spending, while Senate President Davi Alcolumbre said the devices are provided on loan and can be returned by anyone who does not want one.
The contract still needs a signature before the phone and service arrangement can begin.
Brazil's Senate approved Claro S.A. to proceed with a cellphone service contract worth R$4.95 million.
The contract covers 95 iPhone 18 Pro devices and 330 Samsung and Motorola phones for senators and Senate staff.
Claro won the bidding phase with an offer about R$1.09 million below the legislature's initial estimate of R$6.04 million.
The phones will be provided on loan, with mobile data allowances of 100 GB for iPhone 18 Pro devices and 50 GB for mid-range phones.
The deal has drawn criticism and questions from lawmakers, and still requires a signed contract before taking effect.
- Who
- The Senate approved Claro S.A. to proceed with the contract. The phones are for senators and Senate staff.
- What
- A R$4.95 million contract will provide cellphone service and 425 phones on loan.
- When
- Claro was approved on Friday, November 13. The article was published on November 14, 2026.
- Where
- Brazil's Federal Senate.
- Why
- The contract is intended to provide phones and mobile service to senators and Senate staff.
Senate President Davi Alcolumbre
Critics, including Senator Cleitinho Azevedo
Nature of the contract
Senate President Davi Alcolumbre
Alcolumbre said the arrangement is a loan, not a purchase, and that government bodies use cellphone loans for devices with necessary systems.
Critics, including Senator Cleitinho Azevedo
Critics questioned the amount of public money set aside for the phones.
The Senate opened the tender for phones and cellphone service.
Alcolumbre responded in a Senate session to criticism and questions about the planned spending.
The Senate's legal office approved Claro to proceed after the company addressed a municipal tax-document issue.
CNN Brasil published its report on the approval.
- Contract value
- R$4.95 million
- Phone quantity
- 95 iPhone 18 Pro devices and 330 Samsung and Motorola phones
- Initial estimate
- R$6.04 million
- Data allowance
- 100 GB for iPhone 18 Pro devices; 50 GB for mid-range phones
- Contract term
- Four years, with possible renewal for up to 10 years
What people are saying
All government bodies in Brazil use cellphone loans.
It is not an iPhone purchase, since all government bodies do this for devices that have the necessary systems.
Anyone who does not want the iPhone loan is able to return it.