ICT
From The Report: Colombia 2019
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The ICT sector is one of the most promising sectors in Colombia with high demand for telecommunications services, and an emphasis on innovation in commerce and industry. However, financial challenges, such as changes in interest rates, also significantly impact the growth of ICT due to the long-term nature of investments in the sector. Similarly, companies can struggle to access financing to offer new products and attract a greater share of the competitive market. This is influenced by pressures both within the country’s active start-up scene and from the development of new technologies across the world. Although it is expected that companies will be able to keep up, the key to ensuring penetration rates continue to increase will be designing products that meet consumer demands and anticipate upcoming trends. This chapter contains a roundtable with Ignacio Roman Vila, President, Avantel; Fabián Hernández, President, Telefónica Movistar Colombia; and Marcelo Cataldo, President, TigoUNE.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Public and private sector initiatives have seen positive results in: increasing internet coverage and digital literacy Signal boost
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With high demand for telecommunications services, an emphasis on innovation in commerce and industry, and the passing of a new ICT law in June 2019, Colombia’s ICT sector is poised to regain momentum in the coming years. According to international analyst BMI Research, the market value of the country’s ICT sector was $6.29bn in 2018, with this predicted to increase by 6.8% in 2020. Structure & Oversight The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (Ministerio de Tecnologías…

Interview

Ignacio Roman Vila, President, Avantel; Fabián Hernández,: President, Telefónica Movistar Colombia; and Marcelo Cataldo, President, TigoUNE, on technology and challenges to growth Mobilising connections
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Interview:Ignacio Roman Vila; Fabián Hernández; Marcelo Cataldo How has the sector adapted to new technologies, and how will it benefit the broader economy? IGNACIO VILA: A reduction in the prices of telecoms services would increase GDP by two percentage points through increased connectivity. A 10-percentage-point increase in connectivity could result in a 1.3-percentage-point increase in GDP. Therefore, increasing penetration by lowering prices and deploying infrastructure would increase…

Overview

The ever-expanding digital economy is creating widespread: opportunities in emerging markets Bridging the divide
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More and more commercial transactions are moving online and the so-called digital economy continues to expand its reach into every facet of the traditional analogue economy. For businesses, this means they have access to new channels to reach existing clients as well as new opportunities to expand market share with a competitive digital offering. For consumers, the ever-expanding digital economy promises greater access to products and services at their fingertips, as well as increased ease in accessing and comparing information about them. This also tends to encourage more competitive pricing among providers. In emerging economies, the…