PERU AND THE UNITED STATES ADVANCE THE CRITICAL OBJECTIVE OF INTERNET SECURITY AND CONNECTIVITY
During a three-day workshop, regulatory and technological approaches to bridge the digital divide, mainly in rural areas, were shared.
The Embassy, in partnership with the Department of Transportation and Communications (MTC) and the US Commercial Law Development Program, hosted a workshop to discuss regulatory approaches to bridging the digital divide and implementing networks of resilient wireless communications for 5G technology.
Held August 22-24, the workshop brought together government and private sector leaders from the United States, Peru, Australia, Bolivia, and Ecuador to discuss their efforts to advance the broadband connectivity and bridging the digital divide. Stakeholders also discussed the benefits of a diverse and competitive market in the transition to 5G and the importance of open and interoperable telecommunications networks.
The Deputy Minister of Communications of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Víctor Álvarez Herrera, said that broadband Internet is the fundamental basis for the development of information and communication technologies, as well as the transformation towards a digital society and economy.
In this sense, he added that the government’s approach is to promote greater coverage, especially rural, to bridge the digital divide, thus generating a positive socio-economic impact in the country.
For his part, the embassy’s counselor for economic affairs, John Barrett, said that “connecting Peruvians – and more people in the region – who live in rural areas to the Internet will make a real difference in their lives: improving their health and education, providing greater opportunities for business and small business development and ultimately unlocking the true potential of our economies.
Under the auspices of the Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership (DCCP), the workshop advanced the conversation on the effective use of the universal service fund, best practices in broadband regulation and the expansion of 5G vendor security and vendor diversity.
The rural broadband connectivity workshop boosted Peru’s efforts to reform legal frameworks to encourage the deployment of secure and interoperable 5G networks. The workshop also encouraged regional and global cooperation in a sector critical to boosting economic growth in the region and beyond. This event also laid the groundwork for future collaboration between governments on network security and supplier diversity, which are essential elements for the universal deployment of broadband services.
Funding for this commitment was made possible by the DCCP, a multi-year U.S. government approach to fostering an open and competitive Internet, securing 5G networks, and promoting safe and responsible business opportunities in countries around the world.
