About 96 neighborhoods in the border area they do not have fixed internetbeing approximately 22,625 people who lack this service, the majority in the municipalities of Neiba, Deep Valley Y Jimani.
in the monthly report Border Monitor, Ministry of EconomyPlanning and developmentcorresponding to this May, the institution points out that, when analyzing the internet coverage of one of the main companies offering in the border areanone of the provinces reaches 90% of 4G coverage. In particular, Elías Piña and Pedernales do not reach 50% of 4G coverage.
The data provided by the report show that, with respect to the country, the 4G territorial coverage in the border area amounts to 11.43%. While, with respect to the rest of the provinces, it is 14.64%.
As of 2021, some 69 places did not have internet 4G-LTE, mainly in Bahoruco, Elías Piña, Independencia and Pedernales. In addition, it was estimated that of these, approximately 32 neighborhoods also did not have 3G coverage, and more than 90% are located in rural areas.
The Ministry of Economy notes that these limitations in infrastructure, device ownership, access, and computing skills have long-term repercussions for the population of the border territory.
“In particular -he adds-, in terms of the accumulation of knowledge, these deficiencies make it difficult to increase the stock qualified population, an important resource for attracting investment in the border area”.
fixed internet
The data presented in the report indicate that, with respect to the fixed internet, its penetration is substantially lower than mobile. Thus, in general terms, eight out of every 10 sites in the border area Lack of fixed internethighlighting that nine out of 10 are in rural areas.
The provinces with the greatest limitations of the border area they are Elías Piña with nine, and Dajabón and Independencia with eight, out of 10 places. This is due, according to the ministry, to the inherent conditions of the border areasuch as its topography and environmental conditions (protected areas in a large part of its territory), which allows it to generate a direct impact in providing this service, limiting its scope in territories near these areas.
Access to digital devices
The figures exposed in the document indicate that, for the National Survey of Multiple Purpose Households (Enhogar) of 2018, the Pedernales province had the lowest cell phone ownership, representing 76%.
Elías Piña showed less ownership of laptops, with 5.0%; desktop computers, with 4.0%; and radios, with 36.0%.
Thus, the device with the highest ownership in the border areais the cell phone, obtaining 83%, with more notable deficiencies in Elías Piña and Pedernales, with 77%, below others with a similar economic situation such as El Seibo (85%) and Monte Plata (85%).
The Ministry of Economy It specifies that the information in its report does not count the school programs for the supply of technological devices due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in which the government delivered more than one million digital devices.
Computer knowledge and skills
The Border Monitor report also highlights that the knowledge and computer skills that require the use of programs such as Office Word, Excel and Power Point, and the use of specialized professional programs for different professions, are practically non-existent in the border area.
In addition, it indicates that the connectivity gap is recognized at the state level and various interventions are carried out in this regard.
The Connect to the Unconnected project (in execution), promoted by the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (Indotel), provides for the expansion of the access and infrastructure components, social appropriation and skills development within the framework of the National Broadband Plan and Digital Agenda 2030.
For this 2022, the province that will receive the largest allocations within the project “Improvement of connectivity for digital transformation in the Dominican Republic” will be Elijah Pineapplewith 103.1 million pesos.
Under this intervention border areait is intended to provide connection to 165 homes in Elías Pineapple (Billinguin, Pedro Santana, Patricio, La Sierrecita, Botoncillos, Rincón, Pesquero, Bartolo and El Morro), and 28 homes in Independencia (Los Bolos and El Maniel).
