Peru seeks to reduce digital divide with ITU help

Peru’s transport and communications ministry and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) are jointly exploring ways to reduce the digital divide.

"We are interested in generating incentives for the deployment of infrastructure and 4G services in the jungle of our country, where our geography and population dispersion constitute an enormous challenge," deputy communications minister Patricia Carreño said in a press release.

The ministry is interested in approaches, including fiber deployment, that worked in other countries.

The ITU may also support the ministry in hiring a consultant for the evaluation of the 3.5GHz band, which would facilitate the band’s rearrangement and help launch a tender.

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Regulator Osiptel modified regulations related to basic telephone services, which are rarely used as they become outdated.

Osiptel modified conditions for use of public telecoms services, regulations for claims and interconnection. Other resolutions were repealed. See which ones in the Documents box on the top right of the screen.

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Argentina’s telecoms regulator Enacom increased resources for deploying the Refefo fiber network in Catamarca province to account for currency depreciation. The overall project demands US$6.5mn.

State company Arsat will deploy 254km of fiber within 18 months. Resources come from the Universal Service Trust Fund.

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Colombia’s ICT ministry is seeking comments on a new iteration of the 2022-26 digital agenda. Comments may be submitted through April 28, using the form in the Documents box on the right-hand side or via email orestrepo@mintic.gov.co.

The agenda covers digital skills, an inclusive economy, public management, security, internet governance and emerging technologies.

Regulator CRC is also seeking comments on number portability and the registry of excluded numbers through April 26. Details are available here.

Comments on methodologies for updating rates on access to and use of telecoms networks may be submitted through April 28, with more information available here.

An update to the regulatory sandbox is open to comment through May 5, accessible through this link.