The Internet, both fixed and mobile, is a tool that we already get used to having at hand with just one click. But the truth is that there are still several areas of our country that are isolated from this service, either for geographical reasons, lack of technical infrastructure or affordability of the devices.
In fact, in the study “Gap in Internet use: Digital Inequality”, by Fundación País Digital (FPD), some differences in the connectivity of the urban population (81% of Internet use) versus rural areas (58% of their population using the Internet) can be evidenced.
It is in this context that the “Connecting Territories” program was launched in order to deliver, through public-private partnerships, access to connectivity and digital literacy to communities that have remained on the margins of technological development in Chile.
During the launch, the authorities and guests of Nacimiento, Caimanes, Ruta de la Madera and Villa Mininco, four of several localities benefiting from this project, were contacted via the Internet.
Pelayo Covarrubias, president of FPD, said that “this is a very important milestone for the country, since a few months ago it was not possible to communicate online with these sectors, due to the digital divide they suffered.”
The “Connecting Territories” Program is part of the fulfillment of the goals of the “Digital Zero Gap Plan 2022-2025” of the Government, whose motivation is that all the inhabitants of the country have access to connectivity, regardless of where they live or the economic possibilities they have.
The Undersecretary of Telecommunications, Claudio Araya, said that the plan “contributes to closing the gap and allows users to have better digital skills, accessing better employment opportunities, to develop their studies with access to more digital content and to promote and reach more markets with their products.”
The Ministry of Education was also present through Martín Cáceres, director of the Innovation Center of Mineduc, who referred to the importance of internet access to enrich teaching and learning processes.
“The pandemic showed that there are important gaps to be filled in terms of access and capacities for the pedagogical use of digital tools. The digital dimension is a fundamental part of today’s world, so teachers and students must be prepared to participate in it critically, creatively and safely,” he said.
Public-private collaboration
Covarrubias said that “the key to bridging the digital gaps in Chile is public-private collaboration, where simultaneous efforts focused on meeting technical and technological requirements are promoted, but in addition, digital skills are promoted through training and workshops for the population, of course, taking into account the needs of people.”
René Aguilar, vice president of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability of Antofagasta Minerals, said about the implementation of the program in Caimanes, commune of Los Vilos, that “it will allow the community to have access to the same quality of Internet that we have in all the regional capitals of the country, more free WiFi points and a robust digital literacy program for the community.”
For his part, Felipe Alveal, deputy manager of Corporate Affairs of CMPC, valued the impact of the program. “Hand in hand with Fundación País Digital we have brought connectivity to the town of Villa Mininco, to Mapuche communities on Route 22 of Collipulli and to the Estación de Nacimiento neighborhood, thus shortening the digital divide and promoting access to learning opportunities and benefits, in addition to enabling communication and local entrepreneurship.”
The event ended with the signing of the commitment between the institutions involved to continue promoting the “Connecting Territories” project, and other organizations and companies were invited to join the initiative.
The companies and organizations that are supporting this program are Antofagasta Minerals, Minera Los Pelambres, CMPC, Entel Ocean, Mundo, ATC Chile, Ministry of Telecommunications, Ministry of Social Development, Social Economy Associativity Division of the Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism, Municipality of Collipulli, Commune of Los Vilos, Municipality of Santa Juana, Municipality of Nacimiento, NIC Chile, ERPyme, Hughes, Sky and YBS Telecom.
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