President Luis Abinader went live from the Presidential Palace on 7 October 2020 to announce his commitment to 5G broadband in the Dominican Republic. The new standard is seen as a step forward for the country’s digital development. It will impact the transmission speeds of mobile data, allowing an exponential leap in the technological advance of both the productive sectors and all citizens.
President Abinader says the country accepts the challenge to become the second Latin American country to install 5G technology. The first is Chile. The digital transformation will create much needed jobs, says the President.
On 7 October 2020, the Presidency issued Decree 539-20, declaring the right to universal access to the latest generation broadband internet network. The decree establishes that the productive use of information and communication technologies is of national interest.
Speaking at the Presidential Palace, he announced a new national policy for managing the radio spectrum of frequencies in the country to guarantee economic development through plans that drive the digital economy’s growth and competitiveness. He spoke of the transformation of businesses and government, equal opportunities, promotion of innovation and free and fair competition.
Abinader said he had instructed the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications director to initiate the bidding process for the spectrum for the development of 5G networks in the country. The announcement comes when the Internet’s use is now crucial for government, business, and education.
“We want to develop a plan for the deployment of 5G technology and broadband that is unprecedented in our history, a leap in level to hyperconnectivity that will change the future of our country,” said Abinader.
President Abinader indicated that the Covid-19 pandemic had highlighted the great digital divide and represents the greatest challenge for this year’s school year.
“We are looking to expand coverage nationally and will try to get it to every place where there is a school in our country,” he said.
Nelson Arroyo and Julissa Cruz, president and executive director of the Dominican Telecommunications Institute, participated in the Presidential Palace presentation.
As a regulatory body, Indotel must do its part to ensure that 5G service reaches the Dominican people as cheaply as possible. “The government’s goal is to increase quality and decrease exclusion,” said Nelson Arroyo.
According to the ENHOGAR-2018 survey, only 31.6% of Dominican households had access to the Internet. Currently, 8% of the population does not have access to a quality network.
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8 October 2020