The key to boosting city services and development: Closing the digital divide

With the purpose of promoting a discussion space to raise awareness of, and elucidate, solutions that digital technology has made available to Latin Americans during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, as well as to discuss challenges and opportunities at this juncture, the Ninth Summit País Digital was held, an open virtual event that took place on September 7 and 8.

To analyze the challenges and opportunities in digital transformation and in particular those in the digitalization of cities, Mauricio Agudelo, CAF – Development Bank of Latin America’s (CAF) Digital Agenda Chief Executive and Coordinator, participated in the “Smart cities and territories, beyond cities and their centers” panel.

As part of its Digital Agenda, CAF has set forth a roadmap that addresses the closing of the digital divide. It consists of the following pillars: Digital Services Infrastructure and Connectivity. Together these pillars represent the infrastructure that enables data traffic and the equipment people use to connect to services made possible by it. These pillars are a first step in bringing about a digital transformation for the well-being of all.

The rapid response to the crisis accelerated digitalization in many respects, but there was no time to discuss the consequences, risks or inequities. The digitization process is not going to stop. On the contrary, many believe it will continue to accelerate. But there are many aspects to be regulated, risks to be mitigated and above all, access to be guaranteed. Making visible these changes and the achievements made so far is both an opportunity and an obligation for all actors involved in digital transformation. But we must also include those needs that remain, as yet, unmet. This was one of the central elements of the Ninth Summit País Digital.