This is how Colombia progressed in connectivity during 2021

Colombia's progress in connectivity during 2021 reveals an accelerated execution of connectivity projects in the country by the national government, especially in rural and urban areas of the 32 departments.

With just a few days left in the year, the Minister of Information and Communications Technologies, Carmen Ligia Valderrama Rojas, took stock of the four main programs that make up Colombia's strategy to become a more connected country in 2022.

“Our roadmap is clear: maximizing social well-being by providing connectivity services to all Colombians; promoting the safe, responsible, and beneficial use of the internet and technology; and implementing the concept of 'Sustainable Technology' by fostering national talent in the creation of technological solutions to support economic recovery.‘, Minister Valderrama Rojas emphasized.

With Connected Homes, a program through which the Government seeks to break down accessibility barriers for low-income families, with rates starting at $8.613 for households in stratum 1 and $19.074 for households in stratum 2, 346,732 households with fixed internet were reached in the country, of which 343,013 are approved by the oversight body.

Likewise, a total of 2,638 Digital Zones or free Internet connection points are in operation in parks, squares and public places in rural (1,550) and urban (1,088) areas.

Adding to this progress is the NavegaTIC project, which delivered and activated 256,962 SIM cards with free Internet and mobile phone services to students in grades 9, 10 and 11 of public schools, public universities and SENA, as well as to women entrepreneurs who are beneficiaries of the programs or initiatives of the Vice Ministry of Digital Transformation of the MinTIC.

The first year of fulfillment of commitments made by mobile service operators in the spectrum auction was also completed, with a total of 852 rural communities now offering 4G mobile service in 205 municipalities across 27 departments. Claro has completed service in 211 communities, is currently implementing it, and has 30 in the preliminary phase. Partners (WOM) has completed service in 641 communities, is currently implementing it, and has 7 in the preliminary phase.

Source: MinTic

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