ICT & Media
From The Report: Colombia 2014
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Colombia’s telecommunications market is going through intense growth as operators strive to enhance their offers in a growing array of services. The sector achieved revenues of $13.9bn in 2012, compared to $2.6bn in 2000, according to figures by the OECD. Much of this dynamism has come from the introduction of 4G services, for which five operators won licences in the 2013 government auction, and several companies have already started commercialisation of new 4G offers. Meanwhile, increasing convergence of telecommunications services is prompting the rise of triple play. While América Movil’s Claro continues to dominate the market, growing numbers of mobile internet users are creating demand for new products and services, and adding on to investment opportunities for telecommunications operators, equipment providers and content developers. This chapter contains an interview with Alberto Samuel Yohai, President, Colombian Chamber of Informatics and Telecommunications; and a viewpoint with Mariana Garcés Córdoba, Minister of Culture.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Continued growth is driven by private investment and government connectivity efforts
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As the country continues to benefit from macro-economic stability, Colombia’s IT sector is increasingly becoming an intrinsic part of society. Growth is currently driven by better economic performance. A series of government measures are also improving market conditions for IT firms. On the consumer side, Colombia’s Vive Digital plan is not only enhancing connectivity levels of the population, but also creating the necessary environment for IT to permeate daily life. According to the “Global…

Analysis

Going digital: Advertising investment and content are driving the move towards online platforms
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The rapid expansion of internet connections in Colombia, combined with the growing demand for multi-platform communication strategies, is strengthening online media outlets in the country. Much of it has been driven by the explosion in the use of social media, especially among the country’s youth. However, the online media sector is also being galvanised by the move from established media products towards digital content. According to figures by the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications,…

Interview

OBG talks to Alberto Samuel Yohai, President, Colombian Chamber of Informatics and Telecommunications
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Interview:Alberto Samuel Yohai Why is it important for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to use technology in their production processes? ALBERTO SAMUEL YOHAI: When we look at the number of SMEs demanding ICT services, we see that the figures are still negligible. According to a study we performed together with a Colombian think tank by the name of Fedesarrollo, by the end of 2013 only 8% of SMEs were using advanced technologies as part of their production processes. Despite this…

Viewpoint

Encouraging the arts: Mariana Garcés Córdoba, Minister of Culture, on opportunities in the audio-visual sector
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The potential for growth in the cultural sector is enormous, and Colombia offers numerous investment opportunities in this area. While other Latin American capitals like Buenos Aires have more than 300 theatres, for example, Bogotá has only 30. To promote the construction of infrastructure for the arts, we created a law of public performances, which envisages a 100% tax exemption for private investors who invest in building this kind of infrastructure. The law also removes the tax burden for international…

Analysis

Expansion call: Mobile subscribers multiply as new regulations level the playing field
OBG
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As operators strive to enhance their offers in a growing array of services, the telecommunications market is going through intense growth. Investing heavily on infrastructure deployment to improve service quality, government bodies and private operators are pushing for the development of the sector. Increasing convergence of telecommunications services is prompting the rise of triple play. Growing numbers of mobile internet users are creating demand for new products and services, and adding on to…

Analysis

Servicing the market: Regulatory changes aim to push mobile operators to do better
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The regulatory environment for telecommunications has become increasingly stringent over recent years, as authorities increase their efforts to create a more levelled competitive landscape. As mobile telecommunications services also expand rapidly, issues relating to pricing, competition and quality have become centrally linked to economic policy and the government’s goal on greater connectivity. The issues have also become part of the political debate. In February 2014 Colombia’s attorney general…