Argentina. The Argentine government launched the plan that will allow the extension of the deployment of the 4G mobile internet network and that will give strong impetus to the development of the information and communication technology industry.
In the framework of the event, the President of Enacom, Silvana Giudici, presented the new line of credits with preferential rate for deployment and updating of Internet access networks, which will facilitate the updating and expansion of last mile networks and the interconnection to wholesale service networks by micro, small and medium-sized companies providing the Fixed Broadband Internet Access Service in towns of up to 50 thousand inhabitants.
This program will be carried out through public financial entities, in terms of 5 years, and Enacom will allocate $500 Million, up to 20 million per project, to finance up to 25% of the interest rate of each loan. "We believe that the allocation of resources should be completed with a comprehensive program such as a line of loans at a preferential rate that will be subsidized by The Funds of the Universal Service," Giudici explained.
A second stage of the Non-Reimbursable Contributions Contest was also announced, whose purpose is the financing of projects aimed at the universalization and improvement of network infrastructure for the provision of fixed broadband internet access service in areas with unmet needs in localities less than 10,000 inhabitants. To this end, $2400 Million from Universal Service Funds was allocated.
In addition, the evolution of the deployment of 4G was reviewed, whose schedule of obligations has already been advanced in more than 200 locations; joint programmes with ARSAT for the interconnection of REFEFO nodes and the arrival of satellite internet in 115 small towns; as well as the importance of the digital inclusion program for older adults +Simple; that delivered more than 100,000 tablets to retirees.
Finally, the measures that Enacom promoted to facilitate the completion of procedures and make management transparent, favoring competition, protecting the smallest players in the market and improving the user experience were mentioned.
