Good news in the economic package for the year 2023 of the Federal Expenditure Budget Project (PPEF), is that there is a substantial increase in projects related to the information and communication technologies sector. The presentation of this budget is of great relevance in our country as it is indicative of the proposed plans for development, equity and social inclusion. In this case, through democratizing access to connectivity.
This is how the allocation for the year 2023 in said budget for information and communication technology projects was a total of 8.3 billion pesos. An annual increase of 11.5% in real terms, which according to the CIU is the highest allocation in the last 22 years for this item.
The telecommunications sector corresponds to a projected expenditure of 6.1 billion pesos, just under 10% of the total, which must be carried out by different bodies such as the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT), the Telecommunications Investment Promotion Agency (PROMTEL) and the Coordination of the Information and Knowledge Society, among others.
According to the CIU publication that analyzed the budget proposal, practically all government agencies (ICT regulators and public policy) dedicated to the exercise of the budget would receive an increase in real terms, except for the cases of the Strategy Coordination Digital Nacional and PROMTEL, entities that will have allocations 1.2% and 2.7% lower in real terms.
The case of CFE Telecom stands out significantly, with a budget 214.0% higher in its real interannual comparison, equivalent to an amount of 10,912 million pesos to seek to provide connectivity to rural populations, which, as has been announced by President López Obrador himself, is one of the priorities of his government. This at least now appears to be somewhat hopeful.
In contrast, the work of the promotion of effective competition and the efficient administration of the radioelectric spectrum in charge of the IFT, will hardly be promoted with a projected budget 2.6% higher, discounting inflation, with resources foreseen for 1,680. It should be noted how important it is to promote competition in this sector.
Regarding the destination of the budget, a 46.4% higher item is projected in real terms (1,170 million pesos), for the direct provision of telecommunications, satellite, telegraphic and fund transfer services by the government.
With regard to the supervision and verification of telecommunications concessions, a 2.7% lower allocation is contemplated in its real annual comparison and 27.1% higher in the case of the maintenance and operation of the Mexican Satellite System.
