The National Communications Entity (Enacom) approved a new program to improve connectivity in public institutions located in rural areaswith a special focus on schools, and provided for the transfer of up to $1,000 million from the Universal Service Trust Fund, through Resolution 64/2023 published in the Official Gazette.
The new “Program for the Development of Internet Infrastructure in Public Institutions in Rural Areas” seeks to improve the provision of Internet access in provincial public institutions, of educational level, health and security that are located in said areas.
To this end, Enacom will execute the program in various stages, for which it will convene and select ICT service licensees with authorization to provide internet or satellite internet.
The chosen companies will provide connectivity for a period of two years to the institutions, and after the deadline, the beneficiary province may opt for the continuity of the service under their supervision.
In this first stage, the vast majority of the benefited public institutions will be rural schools and educational centers -with the exception of three roadside posts and two Army establishments-, with special emphasis on those that currently do not have Internet access.
Of Of the 227 institutions that will receive investment in connectivity in the first call, 52 are located in the province of Chaco, 5 in La Pampa and 170 in Salta.
Enacom will finance 100% of the expenses involved in the installation of the connectivity infrastructure, its maintenance and the provision of the service for two years
For the execution of the program, Enacom will allocate a sum of up to $1,000 million, coming from the Universal Service Trust Fund.
This fund, administered by the regulatory body, is made up of contributions equivalent to 1% of the total income of each licensee of telecommunications services, and finances, in addition to this program, different initiatives that seek to enable quality access and a ” reasonable price” of telecommunications services to all inhabitants.
Through the program, Enacom pointed out that the objective is to contribute to the “insertion, integration and social development” of these communities, providing “equitable, affordable and quality” access with a view to reducing the digital divide.
In addition, the initiative’s mission is to “democratize access” to ICTs, “promote the development of the different regions and their social integration”; and “strengthen the development of the social, educational and security life of the beneficiaries.”
Enacom will finance 100% of the expenses involved in the installation of the connectivity infrastructure, its maintenance and the provision of the service for two years.
At least the speed of the service by the providers will be 10 megabits (Mbps) per second for the download, and 3 Mbps for the upload.
