The Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies (MinTIC) and the Temporary Union ETB NET Colombia Connected announced that they began this Wednesday the tests of operation of the Digital Centers of region B, in the department of Boyacá.
(See: Cafam and ETB come together so that thousands of people have connectivity).
The test was carried out two months after the signing of the new contract between the two entities, which seeks to guarantee the installation of 6,589 Digital Centers in 567 municipalities of 15 departments (Amazonas, Arauca, Bolívar, Boyacá, Casanare, Cauca, Chocó, Cundinamarca, Magdalena, Nariño, Putumayo, Quindío, Risaralda, Valle del Cauca, Vichada) and Bogotá DC.
(See: Elon Musk’s Starlink requested permission to operate in Colombia).
The test was carried out by the ICT Minister, Carmen Ligia Valderrama Rojas, who from the headquarters of the José María Córdoba de Saboyá Educational Institution (Boyacá), connected, via video call, with the Vice Minister of Digital Transformation, Iván Duran, located 163 kilometers away, at the San Benito de Sibaté Departmental Educational Institution (Cundinamarca).
The connection was possible thanks to the Digital Centers located in both educational institutions, which will provide free internet service for 10 years.
“It is very exciting that we are able to connect Boyacá and Cundinamarca with a single click. This is equity and a sample of what can be done with the installation of the Digital Centers, the most ambitious and largest rural connectivity project in Colombia. We are benefiting children and adolescents with free Wi-Fi Internet access from rural educational institutions, as well as the health system, indigenous populations and the defense system”, expressed the minister.
(See: What comes after Wi-Fi to connect to the internet?).
According to information from the ICT Ministry, the test run is not an inauguration or delivery. According to the specifications, the start of the operation phase of the first 1,545 Digital Centers will be in December 2022.
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