One of the goals that the government has set for itself Gustavo Petro is to achieve 85% connection in the country. In fact, the National Development Plan highlights that for the four-year period they hope to double internet access, going from 38.3 million accesses in the country, data from 2021, to more than 71.4 million. But how is this objective progressing?
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According to the indicators, On the front of mobile and fixed Internet access in the country, 69.02% of the goal set for 2026 has been achieved. The latest report highlighted that as of September 2023, 47,389,241 mobile and fixed accesses were established in the country, a figure that showed a growth of 4.56% compared to the second half of 2023.
“Of the 47,389,241 accesses, 8,946,322 corresponded to fixed connections and 38,442,919 to mobile connections. Fixed connections were mainly in the capital district (2,303,598), Antioquia (1,624,365) and Valle del Cauca (927,408), amounts with which a progress of 96.71% of the 2023 goal is obtained (49,000,000 fixed and mobile accesses)“, the most recent report stated.
It is worth noting that the indicator for mobile internet access has made progress of 65.73%, and the specific goal is to achieve 61,400,000 accesses. However, the progress in the indicator for connecting people over five years of age to the internet has not been met.
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Connectivity
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Digital literacy
In the face of the digital access and literacy indicator, Promoting the knowledge society through Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), the most recent PND report indicated that they have managed to raise awareness among 870,531 people on the safe and responsible use of ICT through programs such as ‘1, 2, 3 x ICT’ and ‘Click Seguro’.
“There was an overfulfillment of 19.3 percentage points of the goal for 2023 (730,000 people) and 20.7% of the four-year goal was achieved (4,200,000 people). The beneficiaries are located in 32 departments and Bogotá; mainly in Bogotá DC (130,940), Cundinamarca (85,119) and Antioquia (79,051)“, the report said.
On the other hand, the report highlighted that during 2023, 195,191 training courses in digital skills were provided, through the programs ICT Generation (31,423), Digital Society (9,226), ICT Training for Change (6,581), Public Servants (4,247), BIOS (1,800) and Start with ICT (141,914).
“The beneficiaries are located in the 32 departments (and Bogotá); mainly in Cauca (34,855), Bogotá DC (18,656) and Atlántico (16,298). With these actions, an overfulfillment of 77.5 percentage points was achieved, of the 2023 goal (110,000 trainings) and progress was made by 24.5% of the four-year goal (797,000 trainings). The awareness initiatives in safe and responsible use of ICT and training in digital skills make up the strategy to educate the Colombian population in the use of new technologies.“, stated the most recent balance sheet of the results.
From the Ministry of ICT
According to the ICT Minister, Mauricio Lizcano, to advance on the connectivity front, they structured the ‘Colombia Digital Potency’ strategy, an initiative based on three pillars: connectivity, digital education and innovation ecosystems. They also defined artificial intelligence and cybersecurity as cross-cutting themes.
(…)Regarding connectivity, we identified the need to strengthen infrastructure and strategies to expand coverage, especially in rural and remote areas (…) From day one, as established in the National Development Plan, we have worked to create opportunities and equality. For this reason, the ICT Ministry seeks to consolidate a digital society as an instrument of social transformation.”Lizcano said.
Now, to advance connectivity, The ICT Ministry is seeking to connect 1,262 community internet access solutions through Wi-Fi zones in the next two years, called Community Zones for Peace (ZCP), in alliance with the Territorial Renewal Agency (ART), located in localities or rural communities of municipalities covered by the Territorial Focus Development Programs (PDET). To achieve this objective, they will have an investment of more than $205,000 million.
“These connectivity solutions will operate until July 2026 and will be installed in official rural educational centers that do not have the connectivity service, benefiting 161 PDET municipalities in 19 departments of the country”Lizcano said.
Another project they hope to consolidate is ‘Connectivity to change lives’. This initiative seeks to bring broadband internet to 400,000 households in strata 1 and 2 in 175 municipalities in the departments of Nariño, Cauca, Valle del Cauca, Chocó, La Guajira, Amazonas, Vichada and Urabá Antioqueño.
“Through the development of this project we will strengthen the existing backbone networks and the construction of these in the municipalities where they currently do not exist, with the purpose of improving the conditions of availability of the telecommunications service.“, added the head of the ICT portfolio.
Regarding digital education, the minister highlighted that to date they have managed to launch various programs for women, youth, men, boys, girls and older adults. These training programs are Talento Tech, SenaTIC, Colombia Programa, AvanzaTEC and CiberPaz.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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Artificial intelligence
Among the advances in the inclusion of new technologies are: two AI development centers and the AI Law project.
“Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a fundamental part of our work. That is why it is included in the latest letters of PotencIA. The arrival of this technology is a reality, and Colombia is determined to be a leading country in the region in this area. We are building two large artificial intelligence development centers: one in Zipaquirá and another in Usme, in Bogotá, which are complemented by 75 PotencIA AI learning centers throughout the country. We filed before the House of Representatives Bill 447 of 2024, the Data Law, which dictates provisions for the supply, exchange and use of the Colombian State’s data infrastructure (IDEC).“Lizcano said.
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