Colombia “Seeks to Promote Widespread Internet Use”

28/02/2013

Colombia, a country with one of the highest Internet penetration rates in the region, is currently finishing preparations to host Lacnic’s annual meeting.

Carolina Hoys, Colombia’s Deputy Information and Communications Technology Minister, highlighted the government’s commitment to Internet development and its view of the Internet as a tool for job creation and bridging the social divide.

The following is a summary of the Deputy Minister’s interview with Lacnic News.

How important does the Colombian government believe Internet development is for the country?

Thanks to its potential as an agent for business development and a powerful educational tool, Internet penetration growth and the appropriation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) are effective job creation and poverty-fighting tools.

The government is aware of this and has created Plan Vive Digital, a program that seeks to promote widespread Internet use as a leap towards democratic prosperity.

According to the latest ITU report, Colombia has an Internet penetration rate of 40.4 users per 100 inhabitants. What is the government’s strategy for bridging the country’s digital divide?

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The ICT Ministry measures Internet penetration by the number of Internet connections. When we began our term of office there were 2.2 million broadband Internet connections, now there are more than 6 million. Our strategy is to continue to connect the country and to reach 8.8 million connections in 2014.

This year we hope to add another million connections, thanks to the subsidies provided by the government for connecting the country and the natural growth of the market. We also expect that, when all operators begin providing 4G services, Internet use in Colombia will explode.

Are there any projects for helping the most disadvantaged communities and those with the lowest levels of ICT development? What can you tell us about these projects?

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