‘The Digital Ecosystem and Economy in Latin America’ study was presented at the 5th Ministerial Conference on the Information Society in Latin America and the Caribbean, organized by ECLAC and the Government of Mexico, through the Secretariat for Foreign Affairs.
What are the challenges facing Latin America to boost wealth and progress through the development of its digital ecosystem? The study identifies the transformations needed in the telecommunications and internet services industry, and gives recommendations to benefit digital development. Between 2006 and 2013 the number of Internet users in Latin America has doubled, now reaching 47% of the population.
“Internet is strategic for Latin America to emerge from underdevelopment”.
Aimed at starting the necessary dialogue to define public policies for the development of the Latin American digital ecosystem, the Latin American Development Bank (CAF), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Centre for Latin American Telecommunication Studies (cet.la) and the Fundación Telefónica carried out the study ‘The Digital Ecosystem and Economy in Latin America‘. This study contributes to understanding the transformation of the telecommunication and internet-based services industry.
The study analyses how recent changes inside the digital ecosystem in Latin America have made an impact on the key variables for development and competitiveness of economies of the region. Recommendations are also given based on workshops carried out in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru with over 180 opinion leaders from the academia, the government sector, entrepreneurs, telecommunications companies and Over The Top operators.
The study was presented at the 5th Ministerial Conference on the Information Society in Latin America and the Caribbean, organized by ECLAC and the Government of Mexico, through the Secretariat for Foreign Affairs.
The Executive Director of Cet.la and ASIET said that this book is an invitation to thought and debate on public policies, to benefit the development of the digital ecosystem in the region. “Internet is strategic for Latin America to emerge from underdevelopment and become a region of progress for all citizens. To do this, it is essential to close the digital divide and boost Internet-based economy”.
According to Mario Cimoli (ECLAC) “The Internet access gap within the countries of our region compared to more developed regions, has reduced significantly, particularly regarding mobile technologies. This process has largely been the result of a decrease in access charges, increased coverage of networks and the lower cost of terminal equipment”.
Claudio Muñoz Zúñiga, President of Telefónica in Chile, stated: “the analysis we are presenting today means great progress in the portrayal and knowledge of the digital ecosystem status in Latin America”.
Mauricio Agudelo, Senior Telecom Specialist of CAF commented on the study: “it is the result of efforts to understand the way in which recent changes within the digital ecosystem in Latin America are making key variable impacts for the development and competitiveness in the economies of the region”.
