The Company

UNION Engenharia de Telemática (Telematics Engineering) is a company founded in 1991 by senior engineers with solid technical backgrounds and extensive professional experience in the fields of telecommunications and IT, focused on project design and business opportunity development in this segment, both in Brazil and abroad.

Telematics, a combination of Telecommunications and Informatics (IT), is the set of technologies for transmitting digital or analog signals (data, voice, video) resulting from the appropriate combination of telecommunications resources (telephony, satellite, radio links, cables, and optical fibers) and IT resources (computers, peripherals, software, and network systems) that enables communication between users, information dissemination to groups of users, and data collection anywhere on the planet.

The constant and increasingly rapid technological advancement of this set of technologies, associated with a diverse range of user requirements and needs—whether human or machine—makes it complex to define telematics solutions that offer the right combination of features to maximize the cost-benefit ratio for users, optimizing performance, availability, security, flexibility, and environmental impact.

UNION, together with its highly specialized partners and collaborators—with strong involvement in both academia (formerly CETUC, the Center for Telecommunications Studies at PUC-RJ, now incorporated into the Department of Electrical Engineering of the University) and national and international regulatory bodies (ANATEL and ITU, International Telecommunication Union), as well as professional organizations such as the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), SBrT (Brazilian Telecommunications Society), SCTE (Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers), and SSPI (Society of Satellite Professionals International)—is in a unique position to study and discuss needs and ambitions with user and service provider companies, and to seek the most appropriate connectivity solutions, protocols, interfaces, and management.

Dealing with large national and international corporations, UNION’s professionals and partners have led successful operations to establish pioneering projects and services that drastically changed the history of telecommunications in Brazil, among which the following stand out:

  • Active participation in the development project of the first geostationary satellite developed by the Brazilian Government, being responsible in the first version of the satellite for specifications and definition of its payload interfaces in C, Ku, and L bands under contract with CPqD, and more recently responsible for drafting the Technical Mission Requirement of the Brazilian Geostationary Satellite for Communication and Defense (Br1Sat, later named SGDC) under contract with PUC/Telebrás. This satellite includes Ka and X bands, the latter for the exclusive use of the Brazilian Armed Forces.
  • Embratel’s Brazilian Satellite Communications System (SBTS), including initial participation in the development of the company’s first generation of GEO satellites (Brasilsat A), acting as the spacecraft support system (Satellite BUS) manager.
  • SISCOMIS, the Military Satellite Communications System, developed for the EMFA (Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces), consisting of satellite communications in the X band for mobile tactical communication applications (land, air, and sea), including both the design and specifications of the space segment (X-band payload on the Brasilsat B satellite, the second generation of the Brasilsat system) and the ground segment system (earth stations and network control center).
  • Sizing and basic design of the space segment for TELEMAR / Oi at the 61° W orbital slot, approved and submitted via ANATEL to the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) for official registration. Activities included coverage definition, basic technical characteristics of the payload and satellite support system, and preparation of documents for the ITU, in addition to the first coordination studies with other space and terrestrial systems.
  • Sizing and design of the ground segment of the TELEMAR/Oi satellite communications network, consisting of 8 large central stations and approximately 400 small and medium-sized earth stations spread across the company’s concession area.
  • Design of multi-application corporate satellite communication networks based on integrated multi-service platforms. In the recommended solutions, the satellite network is basically an IP cloud for the user, involving digital transmission in open protocol, high speed, and resource optimization techniques such as DAMA/BOD (demand assigned multiple access / bandwidth on demand). Such solutions enable the sharing of various types of applications, from legacy low-traffic applications to high-capacity data transmissions, and from voice and video signals sensitive to propagation delay variations to time-sensitive digital data.
  • Studies, definition, and drafting of specifications for the Brazilian SBAS (Satellite Based Augmentation System) for air traffic control, based on increasing the accuracy of the GPS positioning system to optimize air traffic flow and safety in Brazil.
  • Support for the development of a consortium of companies for the deployment of an advanced digital submarine cable in the Campos Basin, involving submarine and terrestrial architecture, installation, and connections on the coast and platforms.

Meet Union’s Managers

Technical Director: Engineer Waldo Russo

Waldo Araujo Russo holds a degree in Telecommunications Engineering from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-RJ), a postgraduate degree in Telecommunications Systems from the same university, and a Master of Science in Systems Engineering (Operations Research and Applied Mathematics) from the Military Institute of Engineering (IME), Rio de Janeiro.

He is the founder and chief executive of UNION Engenharia de Telemática Ltda, where he developed satellite communication solutions and wireless systems for several major clients, such as Petrobras, DECEA (Department of Air Space Control of the Brazilian Air Force), Telemar/Oi, IBM, Comsat, and Globosat. He acts as a consultant in telecommunications solutions for various companies in the Oil & Gas, logistics, financial, and agribusiness sectors, as well as telecommunications service providers and associations/unions such as ABRASAT and SINDISAT, where he conducted studies on the need for spectral sharing with IMT 2000 and IMT 2020 services.

Associate researcher at the former Center for Telecommunications Studies of PUC-Rio (CETUC), now part of the Department of Electrical Engineering (DEE) of PUC-RJ, in the Telecommunications Systems group. He is a member of the research team dedicated to studies on IoT (Internet of Things) technologies and advanced satellite communications.

IT Director of Horizon Cable Vision do Brasil, a cable TV operator (now part of Claro/NET), responsible for the local communications project (BackOffice) during the company’s implementation.

Telecommunications Director of Gtech Corporation, responsible for the design and implementation of the communications system under the modernization contract for Caixa Econômica Federal (CEF) Lotteries, with radios connecting lottery shops to a hub that transmitted via satellite to Gtech’s processing center in São Paulo. In some locations, a VSAT was installed for direct satellite connection.

Technical Director of Racimec Eletrônica, responsible for the development of wireless payment systems.

At EMBRATEL, he was a member of the Advisory Committee on Technical Matters of the Board of Governors of INTELSAT (BG/T), in Washington D.C., representing the Brazilian Administration and participating for seven years in the development of space segment projects and ground segment requirements for Intelsat satellite systems.

He also served as a member of the specialist group created by EMBRATEL to design the first generation of the domestic satellite system (SBTS), acting as the manager of the Satellite Engineering Group of the Space Segment Division.

He was the project manager for SISCOMIS – Military Satellite Communications System during its development and implementation. He was also responsible for the engineering project of the SGDC, the Geostationary Defense and Strategic Communications Satellite of the Brazilian government.

He is the current chair of the IEEE Communications Society Rio de Janeiro Chapter, and is an active member of the following organizations:

  • SSPI (Society of Satellite Professionals International);
  • SCTE (Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers);
  • COMSOC (Communications Society) of the IEEE;
  • SBrT (Brazilian Telecommunications Society).

Participation in Technical Forums and Study Groups

Eng. Waldo Russo is a member of the Brazilian Communications Commission 2 (CBC 2), a group of experts created by the Brazilian Telecommunications Agency ANATEL, which participates in the work of the Radiocommunication Advisory Group (RAG) and the Study Groups (SG) of the ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R).

CBC 2 also addresses radiocommunication issues in the Permanent Consultative Committees of the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) and in Working Subgroup 1 – Communications (SGT-1), Mercosur.

It is composed of six rapporteur groups (GRR 1 to 6), actively participating in:

  • GRR 3: Satellite Services, which deals with issues related to fixed and mobile satellite services within the scope of ITU-R, CITEL, the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO).
  • GRR 5: Spectrum Management and Propagation, which deals with:
    • Spectrum management principles and techniques, general sharing principles, spectrum monitoring, long-term strategies for spectrum use, automated techniques, and assistance to developing countries in cooperation with the Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D);
    • Radio wave propagation in ionized and non-ionized media and noise characteristics to improve radio systems.

In the IEEE, honored as a “Life Senior Member”, he has been a member of COMSOC for 33 years, and is also an active member of the following communities (reference year 2026):

  • Cloud Computing Community, total years: 5;
  • Future Network Community, total years: 12;
  • Internet of Things Community, total years: 11;
  • Digital Reality Community, total years: 5.

At the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), he is a member of the following study groups and working parties:

  • FG-DLT – Focus Group on Distributed Ledger Technology;
  • FG-MLS5G – Focus Group on Machine Learning for Future Networks including 5G;
  • ITU-T Study Group 20 – Internet of Things, smart cities and communities;
  • SG-4 – Satellite Services:
    • Working Party 4A (WP 4A) – Efficient orbit/spectrum utilization for FSS (Fixed-Satellite Service) and BSS (Broadcasting-Satellite Service);
    • Working Party 4B (WP 4B) – Systems, air interfaces, performance and availability objectives for FSS, BSS and MSS (Mobile-Satellite Service), including IP-based applications and satellite news gathering;
    • Working Party 4C (WP 4C) – Efficient orbit/spectrum utilization for MSS and RDSS (Radiodetermination-Satellite Service).

Administrative and Financial Director: Claudia Mendonça Russo

MBA in Telecommunications Management from FGV-RJ; Postgraduate degree in Hospital Administration from Faculdade São Camilo SP; Marketing Administration from FGV-RJ; Advertising, Promotion, and Merchandising from FGV-RJ; Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from UFRJ-RJ.

At UNION Engenharia de Telemática, she has been a partner/manager since 1998, responsible for the administrative and financial management of the company.

In addition to being responsible for contract management, she participated in the planning and quality control of the following activities:

  • CETUC (Center for Telecommunications Studies at the Catholic University, now part of the DEE of the university): Participation in the research team for IoT studies in the healthcare area.
  • CISCEA (Commission for the Implementation of the Air Space Control System): Modernization Project of the entire communications network of COMAER – Brazilian Air Force Command, involving technical visits to various control centers to evaluate COMAER’s communication systems, aiming to identify problems, propose solutions, develop integrated management, and ensure a smooth and continuous transition from the current network to a modern and future-proof network. Participation in the preparation of project development reports.
  • CDS Consultoria Naval: Study and evaluation of communication systems on offshore platforms of various companies, aiming to propose alternatives with certified equipment and support in operating licenses for fixed, mobile aeronautical, mobile maritime, and GMDSS/SOLAS systems with Anatel and DECEA. Contacts with control bodies and evaluation of project documentation compliance.
  • CapRock Comunicações do Brasil S/A (Subsidiary of North American CapRock Communications Inc.): support in interacting with ANATEL to obtain operating licenses for the vessel-mounted and transportable earth stations used by the company, including studies on electromagnetic radiation exposure limits for technicians and the general public. Final preparation of reports and general review of compliance and consistency.
  • Lidersat: Preparation of compliance reports on exposure limits to electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields (CEMRF), according to Anatel Resolution 303, for the earth stations deployed by the company for Telefônica.
  • Gilat do Brasil: Preparation of compliance reports on exposure limits to electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields (CEMRF), according to Anatel Resolution 303, for the earth stations deployed by the company for large corporations, such as Petrobras. Analysis of legislation associated with DTH satellite access, including data and internet, for its GTH (Gilat-to-home) service. Final preparation of reports and general review of compliance and consistency.
  • Racimec Eletrônica e Serviços (RES): Advisory to the Technical Director, responsible for the business plan development project and supervision of the implementation of e-commerce applications.
  • Telemar: Advisory on the project, specification, and preparation of documentation for ANATEL / ITU regarding the space segment for the geostationary orbital position of 61⁰ W.
  • At PUC-Rio: Worked for the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) on Project BRA/92/019 – Strategic Development of Informatics in Brazil – Advisory in the execution of technical activities planned in the project, budget execution, expense planning, and financial schedule execution.