ICT Ministry, EU and CAF will strengthen connectivity in rural areas of Colombia

To strengthen connectivity in the country and promote development in these territories, especially in rural and remote areas, the ICT Ministry, the European Union (EU) and CAF - Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean - signed a Cooperation Agreement through which nearly $20 billion will be allocated to leverage financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and CAF, and thus support the country's National Connectivity Plan. The ICT Minister, Belfor Fabio García Henao; Director for the Americas of the European External Action Service of the European Union (EU), Pelayo Castro Zuzuárregui; and the CAF Representative in Colombia, Rodrigo Peñailillo, participated in the event. 

“This Agreement will allow us to finance initiatives that improve Internet access in Colombia, developing pilot projects in the most remote or difficult-to-access areas of the country. It will also be a great opportunity to continue advancing in our mission of bringing connectivity to those who have never had it,” highlighted the ICT Minister, Belfor Fabio García Henao.

The project is part of the European Union's Global Gateway strategy and will have an initial duration of two years. As part of the agreement, participatory workshops will be held to ensure the inclusion of vulnerable populations, involving local actors and communities in the formulation of digital connectivity proposals aligned with the National Connectivity Plan. These workshops will allow for the evaluation of technological alternatives, considering environmental, biodiversity, and climate change factors, among others.

“As part of our Global Gateway sustainable and fair investment strategy, we support Colombia on its path towards a digital transformation with shared values ​​and a focus on the human being. Connectivity enables the generation of development, investment and employment opportunities, but to achieve these results it must reach the entire country, particularly the most remote regions and communities that suffer from situations of digital divide. This is the added value of joining forces with the Government, the private sector and multilateral banking. Only in this way will we be able to face the challenges of our time without leaving anyone behind,” said the director for the Americas of the European External Action Service of the European Union (EU), Pelayo Castro Zuzuárregui.

Following the workshops, feasibility studies will be carried out that will analyse the technical, economic, environmental and gender dimensions, taking into account the assessments of local and national authorities, the private sector and civil society. This process will ensure that the initiatives are viable and comply with current regulatory and legal requirements, integrating a sustainable and equitable vision for the expansion of digital connectivity in the country.

“This alliance with the European Union's LACIF program is aligned with our initiatives to support connectivity and the expansion of digital infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean. With this project, we are creating the foundations to facilitate the economic integration of remote regions of Colombia and, in doing so, reduce connectivity gaps,” added Rodrigo Peñailillo, CAF representative in Colombia.

Another key component of the agreement is the implementation of pilot connectivity projects, which will test various technologies and strategies for accessing the Internet in remote and difficult-to-access territories, such as Providencia Island. These tests, led by the ICT Ministry, will allow the effectiveness of different solutions to be evaluated and local needs to be defined so that digital infrastructure mechanisms can be adapted.

With this initiative, which will also launch training programs in digital skills aimed at communities in vulnerable situations, the European Union, the European Investment Bank, CAF and the ICT Ministry reaffirm their commitment to digital inclusion and the sustainable development of the country, promoting the connectivity that will make Colombia a Digital Power.