Cooperation agreement aims to strengthen connectivity in Colombia

Details: Vaughan O'Grady; Category: Investment; 24 February 2025; 7945 views

Colombia’s Ministry of ICT, the European Union and CAF, the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, have signed a cooperation agreement to strengthen connectivity in Colombia and promote development in its territories, especially in rural and remote areas.

Through the agreement, signed last week, an estimated US$20 billion will be allocated to leverage financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and CAF, and thus to support Colombia’s National Connectivity Plan.

The project takes place within the framework of the European Union's Global Gateway strategy; its initial duration will be two years.

As part of the agreement, participatory workshops are planned that will guarantee the inclusion of vulnerable populations, involving local players and communities in the formulation of digital connectivity proposals aligned with the National Connectivity Plan.

These workshops, say the agreement signatories, will permit the evaluation of technological alternatives, considering environmental factors, biodiversity and climate change, among other factors.

Following these workshops, feasibility studies will be carried out that will analyse technical, economic, environmental and gender factors. They are also expected to include input from local and national authorities, the private sector and civil society.

The hope is that this process will ensure that the initiatives are viable and comply with current regulatory and legal requirements, in particular helping to ensure a sustainable and equitable vision for the expansion of digital connectivity in the country.

Of course a key component of the agreement is the actual implementation of connectivity initiatives. This will involve the testing of various technologies and internet access strategies in remote and difficult-to-access territories, such as the remote Caribbean island of Providencia.

The testing process will be led by the ICT Ministry and will evaluate the effectiveness of different solutions, defining digital infrastructure mechanisms adapted to local needs.