Although Colombia has made considerable progress in democratizing Internet access in recent years, a recent report by the Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies (Mintic) reveals that there is still a significant gap in access to this service. According to the report, out of every 100 Colombians, only 17 have a fixed Internet connection.
“Disparities in Internet access between urban and rural areas, as well as between socioeconomic strata, contribute to a digital divide that can lead to other disparities, since in daily life this service is essential to access educational opportunities, seek employment, access health services and participate in the public sphere. By providing public Wi-Fi, it ensures that even people who cannot afford this service at home can access information and resources online,” Orozco points out.
Among the entities that have led this initiative are the Mayor’s Offices of Bogotá, Floridablanca, Soledad and Dos Quebradas, as well as the municipalities of Cartagena, Pereira and Puerto Colombia, along with the Government of Risaralda and the Department of Atlántico. In addition, MinTic’s “Free Wi-Fi for People” project already has more than 7,500 public Internet zones throughout the country.
“It is important that users verify that the public network to which they connect is legitimate, for this, it is advisable to use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt their data traffic and verify that when accessing sensitive sites, such as banks or sites where financial and personal information is handled, it has the ‘Green Padlock’ or the icon that indicates that it is the official site. In addition, it is recommended that they keep their devices updated, as well as applications with the latest security updates to shield themselves against any vulnerability,” adds Liceth Orozco, CEO of Ohmyfi.
It also highlights that closing the digital divide is not only a matter of access to technology, but also of equal opportunities, economic development and citizen participation. That is why the United Nations (UN) declared May 17 as World Internet Day, with the aim of promoting the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and reducing the digital divide in the world.
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