Peru. The Deputy Minister of Communications of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, MTC, Virginia Nakagawa, stressed that the telecommunications sector grew at a rate of 10% on average per year in the last 4 years in the country. It was during his presentation for the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, held during a conference at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru.
"We have growth indicators in almost all telecommunications services, which have been sustained in recent years. For example, in 2013 there was an investment of S/ 2 600 million, while in 2017 that amount reached S/ 3 300 million. The total number of mobile phone lines in 2013 totaled 29 million, while in 2017 there were 38 million. Mobile Internet connections, in the same period, went from 0.8 million to 20 million," he explained.
He also stressed that in mobile services the deployment of 4G technology was promoted, coverage was extended to more locations and better technology, mobile broadband subscribers increased and there is growth in the connections of fixed internet and Pay-TV services.
"The growth and the positive impact that the sector has on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), is really impressive. We have many challenges to face, but I believe that consistent public policies have generated a positive and attractive environment for investments that is denoted in the figures reached," said Nakagawa in his dissertation "Development of telecommunications: Current situation and perspectives of the sector".
World Telecommunication and Information Society Day is celebrated on 17 May each year. "The vision of the MTC to 2021 is to guarantee access to efficient, quality and social interest telecommunications services to achieve a country with greater social welfare and better competitiveness, thanks to the intensive use of broadband," said the deputy minister.
Earthquake in the face of earthquakes
He said that the MTC is working on the implementation of the tender for the execution of the Emergency Early Warning Messaging System (Sismate), a technological tool that seeks to disseminate early warning messages that will be made available to the National Institute of Civil Defense (Indeci) for disaster risk management.
The Sismate allows to create and distribute alert messages to the population of a certain area, through cell phones, being complementary to other traditional means of dissemination such as radio and television.
"In a first stage the messages will reach the cell phones, even cutting off the calls. In a second stage they will also reach digital televisions. That way it will become an important system to safeguard people's lives," he said. Nakagawa estimated that in less than two years the Sismate would become operational.
