Convergencia Research, Consultoría especializada en Latinoamérica y Caribe
Thursday, September 17, 2020

Argentine government launches the National Connectivity Program

President Alberto Fernández yesterday led the launch of the National Connectivity Program, which provides for a total investment of US$ 504 million to provide fiber optic and satellite connectivity throughout the country. The initiative also contemplates the enhancement of the Arsat Open Digital Television and Data Center infrastructure.

The Argentine Satellite System will receive US$ 265 million for the development, construction and launch of the Arsat-Sg1 satellite with the objective of connecting 200,000 rural households.

Another US$ 175 million will be allocated to the Federal Fiber Optic Network (Refefo, in Spanish) to build and illuminate a 4,408 km stretch of Fiber Optic to reach a 38,808 km horizon in 2023.

Likewise, US$ 57 million will be invested in the data center of the national satellite company. These funds will go to updating storage equipment, servers, networks, backup and software and expanding cloud services.

Lastly, US$ 5.9 million will be disbursed in the TDA. According to the administration, the funds will go to the recovery of 100 transmission stations, to the renewal of the platform's equipment and to improve the image quality with aspirations of reaching 10 million homes.

At the event, held at the Arsat Earth Station in Benavidez, province of Buenos Aires, President Fernández declared: "Our commitment continues to be to think about the Argentina of the future that promotes education, science and technology" and added: "That Argentina is the one that brings access to information to all corners of the country and the one that gives development opportunities to each of the Argentines."

In turn, the Chief of Staff, Santiago Cafiero, added that "Arsat has been a state company attacked by the previous administration with an ideological bias and prejudice and also underfunded by the policy of destruction." The official valued that Arsat sells its services to foreign companies and thus contributes to Argentine exports.

The Secretary of Public Innovation, Micaela Sánchez Malcom, added that the Connect plan "is based on inclusion because it shows that ICTs are fundamental for all citizens, and are doors to other rights."

To finish, the president of Arsat, Pablo Tognetti, stressed that thanks to the company, the country avoids having to resort to foreign satellite services.

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