María del Rosario Guerra Minister for Information and Communications Technologies

1. The Colombian ICT sector and its perspectives: “Advancing towards a better-informed society and Bridging the digital divide” María del Rosario GuerraMinister for Information and Communications Technologies Bogotá D.C. – November 11, 2009 1

2. Contents • Colombia – Context of the ICT Sector • Colombia – Towards a Better-informed Society • Colombia – Bridging the Digital Divide

3. The telecommunications sector is performing much better than the aggregate economy… Real annual growth rate (%) Source: DANE (2009)

4. Between 2005 and 2008 telecom operators revenues have almost doubled… USD Millions Source: Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies (2009)

5. Since 2005, IT services revenues almost doubled … But software opportunities remain unexploited USD Millions Source: Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies (2009)

6. Internet penetration and Broadband accesses have skyrocketed in the last three years … * Quality standard settled by the Communications Regulatory Commission of Colombia > 512kps. Source: CRC.

7. Population 5 years and over which used Internet at any place during the lat year 37,5% of Colombian population used Internet during the last year Percentage of population 5 years and over Source: Integrated Households Survey (Jul – Dec 2008). Dane

8. Population 5 years and over which used a PC at any place during the last year 46,4% of Colombian population used a PC during the last year Percentage of population 5 years and over Source: Integrated Households Survey (Jul – Dec 2008). Dane

9. Some advances in ICT infrastructure stemming from private investment Source: Ministry for Information and Communications Technologies (Nov 2009)

10. Some advances in ICT infrastructure due to public (FONTIC) investment Source: Ministry for Information and Communications Technologies (Nov 2009)

11. These advances have been recognized by international ICT Rankings

12. Colombia moved up six positions in the e-readiness Index (The Economist) Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit. E-readiness Index 20009

13. The ICT sector significantly contributes to aggregate competitiveness in Colombia Source: The Global Competitiveness Report. World Economic Forum 2009

14. Colombia is the fourth country in the world concerning Internet additions in 2003-2008 “There were an estimated 1.4 billion Internet users around the world at the end of 2008. Reflecting that the number of users grew five times faster in developing than in developed countries, the former now account for more than half of the world total. (…) During the period 2003–2008, Andorra achieved the largest gains in Internet penetration, followed by Argentina, Latvia and Colombia.” Source: The Information Economy Report 2009. UNCTAD

15. Contents • Colombia – Context of the ICT Sector • Colombia – Towards a Better-informed Society • Colombia – Bridging the Digital Divide

16. Vision Colombia 2019 – Policy Framework • By August 07 of 2019, Colombia will celebrate two centuries of being an independent Republic. • The Vision “Colombia 2019” is a picture of our country by that date, built by all the stakeholders from the society and based on two principles: • Consolidating a public policy framework which is deeply democratic under the principles of freedom, tolerance and fraternity. • Reaching a socioeconomic model based on the equality of opportunities in which the State guarantees social equity. • It focuses on four main goals: • A society in which all citizens enjoy freedom and social responsibility • An egalitarian society with strong solidarity among its members • An economic system guaranteeing improvements in social welfare • A Public Administration continuously enhancing the services it offers to citizens

17. Vision Colombia 2019 – Towards a better-informed society • “By 2019, the access and use of Information will be an effective right guaranteed to every citizen and also an instrument for knowledge diffusion and appropriation. Thus, information will be a crucial driver for socioeconomic development, welfare improvement, social equity and democracy. Moreover, ICTs will be considered as the main platform to access information at affordable prices and from every location of our country” • The main driving principles to achieve this ambitious goal are: • Promoting the generation, diffusion and use of Information. • Setting standards and best practices concerning Information Systems. • Defining an proper incentive scheme for the access, use and appropriation of Information. • Building an adequate Institutional and Legal Framework.

18. Vision Colombia 2019 – Towards a better-informed society – 10 GOALS Consolidate a Public Administration at the service of citizens. Achieve an “interconnected” Public Administration. Build a statistical system for information registries. Guarantee adequate levels of universal service and/or access to ICTs. Promote digital inclusion and increase Broadband Internet penetration. Develop citizen capabilities for the use and appropriation of ICTs. Spread information at every level of the society. Define adequate incentives schemes for the generation, diffusion and use of information. Assimilate standards and best practices in information management. Set policy objectives to consolidate the Institutional and Legal framework.

19. Contents • Colombia – Context of the ICT Sector • Colombia – Towards a Better-informed Society • Colombia – Bridging the Digital Divide

20. Colombian ICT Government Agenda 2006-2010 • Every Colombian is to beconnected and informed • Institutional strengthening and modernization so as to develop a strategic sector for our country • Development and competitiveness of the ICT industry • Working for a better service performance of public radio and television

21. Public Investment in social ICTs for the years 09-10 will outweigh the sum of the past 7 years … USD Millions Source: ICT Fund from the Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies. September 2009

22. Bridging the digital divide: every Colombian is to be connected and informed • Increasing Broadband Internet user penetration • Promoting social ICT programs which provide Internet connectivity to public institutions such as hospitals (telemedicine), libraries (e-research), mayor’s offices (local e-government) and public schools (e-learning) through Compartel. • Protecting the rights of children and youth in the web: Internet Sano • Promoting access and use of ICTs by handicapped population so as to improve its social inclusion • Broadening PC access and use: • Providing PCs to public schools with the program Computadores para Educar(Computers for schooling) • VAT exemption for PCs under USD 900 • Soft credit lines to improve access to PCs by university students. 22

23. Bridging the digital divide: every Colombian is to be connected and informed • Deploying the E-Government strategy with the leadership of the program Gobierno en Línea • The government should be an outstanding example as regards as access and use of ICTs in order to facilitate interaction with citizens and firms. • Fostering ICT capabilitiesamong all citizens and firms • Territorios digitales(Digital Territories): • Strategy placing ICTs as a key issue in the regional policy agenda. It looks for cooperation mechanisms among local and national authorities, and ICT providers, if possible, in order to consolidate the use of ICTs in education, health, SMEs, among others, at a local level.

24. Many Thanks Ministry for Information and Communications Technologies www.mintic.gov.co

25. The evolution of COMPARTEL follows technological development Satellite Broadband Connectivity To Public Institutions Public Schools as Internet Community Centers Regional Projects Rural Telephony Submarine Cable to San Andrés Internet Community Centers Mayor Offices School Justice Sector Town Councils 1998 2002 2006 2008 2009

26. Narrowing the Colombian Digital Divide –Telephony and Internet Connectivity • Compartel project was developed since 1999 as the Colombian Social Telecommunications Program for the provision of universal access to ICTs. • The Rural Telephony Program: to facilitate universal access to telecommunications services in rural areas. • The Social Internet Program: to allow Internet to be used by all the population at their community. 1600 Telecenters have been installed, and the objective is to develop 2.500 Telecenters with broadband Internet access by 2010. • The Broadband Connectivity Program: to provide public institutions (schools, hospitals, mayor offices, libraries) with Internet connectivity. • Increase the connectivity coverage of public schools from 9% in august 2006 to 55% in august 2010. • Benefit the 91% of public hospitals (875) and 22% of public libraries (221) with broadband Internet by august 2010. • Provide connectivity to 100% of the Colombian municipalities by 2010.

27. COMPARTEL Public institutions with Internet Connectivity 2004

28. COMPARTEL Public institutions with Internet Connectivity 2007

29. COMPARTEL Public institutions with Internet Connectivity October 2009 PUBLIC SCHOOLS COVERAGE TOTAL 48% 3% COMPARTEL SECR. OF EDUCATION STUDENTS COVERAGE TOTAL 70% 17% COMPARTEL SECR. OF EDUCATION Go back

30. Internet Sano – Cibersecurity for children and youth • The implementation of rules governing Internet use and the development of filters, blocking techniques and special software are extremely useful steps, which we have been implementing in Colombia. • However, action needs to be taken at the international level to ensure that measures are adopted in all countries to control inappropriate content and implement prevention strategies to make children, adolescents and young people aware of the dangers they may face on the web.

31. Internet Sano – Cibersecurity for children and youth • Criteria for classifying Internet pages with child pornography content, developed by a group of governmental and non-governmental entities. • Preventive provisions and sanctions. Management of measures to safeguard against exploitation, pornography and sex tourism and other forms of sexual abuse involving minors on the Internet. • Codes of conduct and self-regulation signed by legal representatives of various telecommunication companies in Colombia. • National Safe Internet communication strategy. • Website www.internetsano.gov.co, on which users can obtain information and background material, and also can denounce websites and/or WebPages offering sexual services involving children, adolescents and young people. Go back

32. San Andrés - 3 Guajira - 50 Atlántico - 320 7 Magdalena 29 Cesar 108 Sucre - 109 • 13 ICT rooms in: • Bogotá (2), Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla, Pasto, Duitama, Neiva, Armenia, Florencia, Cúcuta, Popayán y Yopal • 6.178 deaf-blind people has now access to ICTs thanks to the ICT Rooms 11 Norte de Santander - 136 Córdoba 226 Bolívar 71 Chocó 7 Antioquia 850 Santander 204 Arauca - 67 5 3 Boyacá 404 Casanare 222 Cundinamarca - 531 Caldas 213 9 Risaralda - 186 Bogotá 2644 1 Vichada - 1 Quindío - 124 10 2 Valle 951 Tolima 671 4 Meta - 47 8 Cauca 470 Guainía - 4 12 Huila 258 Guaviare - 29 Nariño 529 6 Caquetá 118 Vaupés - 2 13 Putumayo - 73 Amazonas - 7

33. Deaf people Accessible Telephony 18.653 calls and chat sessions were performed in 2008 Go back

34. Computers for schooling

35. Narrowing the Colombian Digital Divide – PC use and appropriation • Computadores para Educar (Computers for Schooling) is a program, officially launched in 2000, that provides ICT access to public schools. • Computers come from massive donations of used equipment from private companies and public entities, complemented by an innovative assembly line since 2007 and by PCs procurement processes. • More than 200.000 PCs have been delivered since the beginning of the program, benefiting 14.900 public schools. • The objective is to cover 45% of public schools by august 2010 with a ratio of 20 students per PC. • Computers are provided with a one-year warranty together with a support and maintenance policy during the second year. • There is an innovative electronic waste management program (CENARE) which is becoming a leader among Latin-American countries

36. Computer access in Public Schools • By 2002, almost 40.000 public schools had not computer access. By October 30 2009, 34,9% (14.905) of public schools, with more than 4.5 million of students, were benefited by the CPE 45% 21% 15% Source: Ministry of National Education, Sept. 2009.

37. Comparative: “Children per PC at public schools”: 2001 Vs 2008 2001 2009

38. Computers for schooling: e-waste management CPE also collaborates to solve computer e-wasteproblem in Colombia by refurbishing and recycling the donated computers. Recovery of electronic components (stage 2) Manual CPU´s dismantling (Stage 1) Robotic mobile kits CPE reuses e-waste partsby sending them to spare part stores, or by using them for educational Robotic Platforms. Go back

39. Gobierno en línea (e-government agenda) is a national strategy led by the Ministry for Information and Communications Technologies, contributing to a better Public Administration performing efficiency and transparency. In such a way, better services will be provided altogether to citizens, enterprises and other governmental institutions through the efficient use of ICTs

40. International Rankings in e-government Univ. of Brown United Nations Ranking: 22 / 198 Ranking: 58 / 198 World Ranking: 52 / 192 World Ranking: 54 / 191 Latin America Latin America 6 / 20 7 / 20 3 / 20 6 / 20 (2008) (2007) (2005) (2008) * Sixth place in Latin America after Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Uruguay * Third place in Latin America after Brazil and Mexico • Main drivers for advancement of Colombia in the ranking: • On-line filing and payment of taxes • On-line pre-subscription to social security services • On-line trade-related procedures Doing Business 2010

41. The strategy performs several phases defined in the National Decree 1151/08 2010/2012 Phase of E-democracy Collective Policy and Decision Making 2007 2010/2011 Phase of Transformation On-line products and services ON-DEMAND 2005 2009/2010 Phase of Transaction On-line products and services 2003 2008/2009 Phase of Interaction Two-way communication and database query 2001 2008 Phase of Information On-line information publishing 2000

42. Unique Webpage for the Colombian Public Administration www.gobiernoenlinea.gov.co *September 2009 • 570.763 average • monthly visits • 2.113 linked • Web pages • 2.659 procedures • and services have • been published

43. Unique Procurement Webpage for the Public Administration www.contratos.gov.co *September 2009 624.374 monthly visits • 2.263 registered public offices • 69.931 procurement processes • have been published • for about USD 15 billion • in 2009 Go back

44. The ICT Sailor of the Magdalena River and Pacific Coast basins - 2008

45. 9.279 390 People trained in ICTS Courses Generating ICT capabilities Girardot – Barranquilla 31 stops Tumaco (Nariño) - Bahía Solano (Chocó) 16 stops Go back

46. Digital Territories 2007 – 2009 Up to date we have invested more than USD 276 millions ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ Financial sponsorship: 2007: 9 Territories 2008: 23 Territories 2009: 32 Territories Go back

47. ICT LAW – Legal and institutional arrangements to face the challenges of convergence • The ICT Law provides a converged framework to foster the development of ICTs in Colombia through four main axes: • Principle-based: certain degree of stability to allow mean- and long-term planning by both the policy-maker and the industry • Institutional Convergence, in order to facilitate the developments associated with technological and market convergence • Flexibility: to face the requirements arising from technological development • Global perspective: to constantly gather input from the industry.

48. Principles of the ICT Law – Law 1341 of 2009 Efficient use of infrastructure and scarce resources Priority to access to and use of ICTs Fostering Competition Promotion of investment (both domestic and foreign) Protection of ICT users’ rights Technological and Network Neutrality Expansion of e-government

49. Objectives and Measures of the ICT Law – Law 1341 of 2009 • Identify the proper conditions to consolidate the Information Society in Colombia. • Introduce a General Authorization Regime accompanied by registrations, notifications and deregulation (in certain instances) • Grant permissions to use the radio electric spectrum through a separate specific authorization process. (technology-neutral spectrum) • Implement a well-defined institutional framework for ICTs. • Give to the regulator the authority and means to effectively define and apply regulations in a market. • Protect the rights of ICT users. • Settle an adequate transition regime which grants adequate incentives to invest and deploy networks and innovative services. Go back

50. Many Thanks Ministry for Information and Communications Technologies www.mintic.gov.co