Regime will seek to lower prices of smartphones and computers to support the ‘Ecuador Digital’ plan

Ecuadornews:

Quito –
Motivate the reduction of tariffs for smartphones and computers to go down in price until 2021, is one of the highlights of the Ecuador Digital strategy, presented this Friday by the Ministry of Telecommunications.

‘Ecuador Digital’ is the new strategy launched by the Government in order to expand the population’s access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Minister Andrés Michelena said that they are joining the axes of the great national agreement.

To achieve that strategy that is expected to be State policy, Michelena said that they will issue an executive decree that will allow the digital transformation to be achieved.

Andrés Michelena explains that in seeking to lower the prices of smartphones and computers, at least one million new citizens will be allowed to join these technologies and acquire smartphones.

Currently, cell phones are subject to a 15% tariff, but it is also necessary to add 12% VAT and 0.5% of the Child Development Fund (Fodinfa). Computers have a tariff of 10%, to which we must add 12% VAT and 0.5% of Fodinfa.

Another objective is to reduce international roaming rates in the countries of the Andean Community (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia) at local fare prices to benefit travelers and border residents.

National Agency for Digital Transformation

The goals of the initiative foresee that, by 2021, Ecuador will have 98% of telecommunications services connectivity, that 80% of central government procedures will be online and the creation of a National Digital Transformation Agency.

In addition, installation of a thousand free wifi and photo-remote zones, migration to high-speed networks, protection of personal data, electronic passport, open data policy.

Protection of cyber threats from society, creation of a Cybersecurity Operations Center, emergency alerts and georeferenced security and others.

The Minister of Telecommunications did not specify the amount of investment for this strategy, although he mentioned some sources of financing. “We have a budget already established in the Mintel, within what the National Agreement will be established certain immediate actions, and in the contest that we have with the following bands of telecommunications for other categories that is an income of about $ 170 million that they can be directly benefited to the citizens, not necessarily in gross revenues to the Government “.  (I)

Source: https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/2019/05/18/nota/7335101/regimen-lanza-plan-ecuador-digital