Changes in Tariff Areas: impacts on STFC in 2025 and 2026

Anatel recently approved the annual review of STFC tariff areas. The measure takes effect in May 2025. It directly affects how carriers and providers structure their calls and pricing. The market needs to prepare for immediate adjustments and for an even bigger change in 2026.

This review reduces 87 local areas. The benefit reaches consumers in 161 municipalities across 15 states. In the last three years, about 680 municipalities have benefited from these periodic reviews. Despite this, Brazil still has about 4,100 active local areas.

What does this mean in practice for those operating the network? It means fewer long distance rates and more local calls. This changes the revenue and traffic on your network.

What changes in May 2025

The main immediate change is the reduction of local areas. Municipalities that were previously in different areas now share the same tariff area. Calls that were charged as long distance (LDN) become local.

For the provider, this impacts the price table and call routing. It is necessary to update the SoftSwitch and the billing system. The goal is to ensure the end customer pays the correct price. Error here can generate fines for undue charges or loss of revenue.

The annual review is a continuous process of the agency. It seeks to lower the cost of telephony for the end user. For the carrier, the challenge is to adapt the technology quickly. The new rules take effect in May 2025.

The big leap in 2026 and Resolution 768

The market needs to look beyond 2025. In 2026, the new STFC Billing Regulation comes into force. It is attached to Resolution No. 768. This resolution brings a profound change in the fixed telephony structure.

The new rule determines that the Local Area of fixed telephony will have the same geographic limit as a Numbering Area. In practice, the local area will be equal to the Registration Area of the SMP, or mobile telephony.

This means that the idea of "area code" for local calls will change. The convergence between fixed and mobile will be total. Call handling will be simpler and more transparent for the consumer. However, it will require a massive update of routing and billing rules in carriers.

Today there are about 4,100 local areas. Unification with numbering areas should drastically reduce this number. This facilitates network management, but requires attention to implementation details.

Operational impact for the provider

STFC carriers and ISPs that offer voice need to review their systems. The first step is to map the 161 municipalities benefited in this review. Check which of them are in your operating area.

It is necessary to update the national code and area code tables in your SoftSwitch. Calls between these municipalities can no longer be classified as long distance. The treatment must be local from the first second.

The BSS and billing system also needs adjustments. The end customer expects to see the reduction in the bill. If the operation is not updated, the provider risks charging the wrong rate. This generates dissatisfaction and calls to the call center, increasing operational costs.

Technical preparation for convergence

Resolution 768 obliges carriers to think about convergence. Equalizing the fixed and mobile local areas eliminates barriers. Voice traffic tends to increase, as costs drop.

Your SoftSwitch must support the new numbering area configurations. Routing intelligence needs to identify that calls crossing area codes can be local, depending on the region. This already happens with mobile, and now arrives at fixed with full force.

SipPulse recommends a review of dialing rules. Validate if your numbering plan is updated. Ensure that the URA system and dynamic rates are prepared for this transition.

Competitive advantages

These changes are not just bureaucracy. They open doors for new businesses. With the reduction of local areas, providers can offer more attractive voice plans. Billing becomes simpler to understand and to sell.

Convergence with mobile allows creating unified packages. The consumer wants to treat the fixed line as an extension of the mobile line. Technology now allows exactly that.

Providers that adapt quickly will have an advantage. The simplicity regulated by Anatel favors those who have agile implementation capacity. Proprietary or legacy software can hinder this evolution. The flexibility of the SoftSwitch is essential in this scenario.

What to do now

Do not wait until 2026 to prepare. Start by adjusting for the May 2025 review. List the affected municipalities and change the rates. Test the routing of calls between these locations.

Then, look at 2026. Plan the update of your billing system for Resolution 768. The unification of areas will require efficient processing and logic.

Regulation is moving towards simplifying the market. It is up to the provider to use this in favor of the customer and the business. Technology must be a lever, not an obstacle, in these changes.