Latin America has 40 million households experiencing the pande
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The lack of the internet, a fundamental tool in times of a pandemic, has limited access to work or distance education in 40 million households in Latin America, despite the countries' efforts to improve their digital capabilities, it reported this Wednesday (26). ) to ECLAC.Digital technologies have been crucial for the functioning of the economy and society during the pandemic, which in Latin America, hard hit by the new coronavirus, has highlighted inequalities in internet access, according to the report "Universal access to digital technologies to face effects of COVID-19", presented by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean at its headquarters in Santiago.
"There are more than 40 million homes that are disconnected. Half of them are in the poorest two-fifths; this is a problem in practically all countries," said nenitas Bárcena, secretary general of ECLAC, during the presentation of the report in a videoconference.
According to the document, 60% of households and 67% of Latin America's 650 million inhabitants use the internet. In countries like Brazil and Chile, more than 60% of the homes of the poorest fifth of the population have an internet connection, while in Bolivia, Paraguay and Peru, only 3% do.
The study indicates that this low percentage increases the gaps in internet access, which affect the right to health, education and work, while increasing socioeconomic inequalities.
"Latin American and Caribbean countries have adopted measures to promote the use of technological solutions and ensure the continuity of telecommunications services. However, the scope of these actions is limited by gaps in the access and use of these technologies and connection speeds" , points out Bárcena.
To guarantee the connectivity and accessibility of digital technologies, ECLAC proposed that countries guarantee a basic basket of information technologies consisting of a laptop, a smartphone, a tablet and a connection plan for unconnected households, at an annual cost of less than 1% of GDP. leer mas
The commission also suggested developing an inclusive digital society, boosting productive transformation, promoting digital trust and security, strengthening regional digital cooperation and moving towards a "digital welfare state" that promotes equality in this area.