Latin America. The Covid-19 pandemic forced Latin American governments to adjust their approach to public policy issues. The telecommunications sector is reacting in different ways to maintain user connectivity.
On these topics, and the importance of data was discussed in "Dialogues for Digital Transformation. Digital Divide, Statistics, Regulatory Schemes", document published by 5G Americas in Zero Gap.
The participants of the conversation were Mg. Oscar M. González from Argentina, Mg. Edgar Olvera Jiménez from Mexico and Dr. Rodrigo Ramírez Pino from Chile, who were moderated by José Otero, Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean of 5G Americas. Among the topics addressed, the importance of the telecommunications industry is included, the need to promote infrastructure coverage and digital services and implement improvements in the availability of statistical information on the sector that allow identifying the localities that need greater investment in new technologies.
"The telecommunications industry is reacting in a variety of ways in its effort to keep its users connected. Connectivity goes beyond the provision of teleworking or teleeducation services, it is a tool that can mean the difference between the life and death of different people, between being infected with COVID-19 and receiving updated news that makes it possible to live better coexistence while the state of emergency lasts, "explained José Otero.
Specialists also recommend reviewing the tax burden, particularly in times of emergency, in order to boost digital infrastructure and services. He emphasizes that it is necessary to find the balance between the service offer with viable alternatives that avoid delinquency and eventual disconnection. The importance of tax-freeing digital services to make them more affordable and achieving greater adoption of these by the lowest economic quintiles of the population is underlined.
On the other hand, it advocates a better data transparency policy in the sector in order to achieve more reliable data so that States can develop efficient public policies. More collaboration with the private sector and other productive sectors is also recommended. Finally, it is worth mentioning the comments that allude to the search for a role for the State for the new digital era, and the need for the different actors in the telecommunications sector to promote new infrastructure, connectivity, investment and digital inclusion policies.
To read the full conversation of "Dialogues for Digital Transformation. Digital Divide, Statistics, Regulatory Schemes", download the document here.
