Movistar commits to social programme with fixed broadband rollouts

Spanish-backed integrated telecoms operator Telefonica Colombia (Movistar) has committed to new rollouts of fixed broadband lines to lower-income families under the Digital Home Project, an initiative of the Ministry of Information Technology and Communication (MinTIC), and part of the Compartel social programme, which aims to extend broadband internet access to the masses. As reported by CommsUpdate in July, the government has earmarked COP300 billion (USD165.5 million) per annum over the next two years for purchasing computers and subsidising internet access for families in the lowest two ‘strata’ – Colombia operates a system that gives areas a designation between one and six depending on its level of prosperity, strata one being the poorest areas and strata six the most affluent. 100,000 families receiving free housing from the government will also receive computers and free internet access; additional families in strata one and two that purchase broadband access will not be charged VAT on the service.

See more here:
OVETEL Movistar commits to social programme with fixed broadband rollouts