The Social Security Bank (BPS) and Antel relaunched the Ibirapitá Program, which seeks to promote the digital inclusion of the elderly and improve social insertion, participation and equity. Older adults will be able to access devices, differential internet plans and courses aimed at expanding their access to technology. This is a program that migrated from the orbit of Ceibal to that of the BPS.
The presidents of the BPS and Antel, Alfredo Cabrera and Gabriel Gurméndez, respectively, and members of the boards of both organizations participated in the activity.
Cabrera explained that this program passed from the orbit of Ceibal to that of the BPS and that in this new stage the initiative was reconsidered and focused on two phases, with the aim of expanding the digital inclusion of older adults. In this sense, in the first, mobile devices and differentiated internet access plans will be delivered for this group.
Those people over 65 years of age, retired, with incomes of up to 25,820 pesos, equivalent to 5 Bases of Benefits and Contributions (BPC), will have a free cell phone and the Ibirapitá Mobile Plan, granted by Antel. This includes 10 gigabytes (GB) of navigation, 10 GB for Vera TV, 50 minutes to make calls to fixed and mobile destinations of Antel and 50 messages (SMS) for destinations of the state telephone company.
Likewise, retirees over 65 years of age who earn up to 41,312 pesos, equivalent to 8 BPC, will also have access to Antel’s Ibirapitá Mobile Plan.
Cabrera pointed out that the benefit of the mobile phone will correspond to those who have not previously obtained an Ibirapitá tablet. He added that it was decided to change it because surveys indicate that 74% of older adults access the Internet, and that, of these, 82% do so through their cell phones.
In this first phase, the target audience will be some 90,000 people, who will be able to consult on the institutional websites of Antel and the BPS if they are included in the support and, if so, make an appointment to go to an Antel location and carry out the procedure. correspondent.
This stage will be complemented in the coming months with another, which will consist of the presentation of the Ibirapitá Community, which includes an application and the Ibirapitá channel, where users will be able to access virtual content and spaces for participation.
Gurméndez, meanwhile, stressed that Antel’s role is to support this social plan from a technological point of view. He said that the evolution in this aspect has led to a change in the habits and needs of older adults, hence the reason for granting smart equipment and creating new applications and content. Presidency
