Monday, June 22, 2020

Chile renews debate on the Internet as a public service with the pandemic

Senator Juan Pablo Letelier, of the Socialist Party, presented during a virtual discussion organized by the Argentine Chamber of Deputies about the inequalities in coverage and quality evidenced in recent months, and their impact on the legislative discussion. Cybersecurity is strengthening as another parallel debate, not only for the protection of personal data, but in view of the China-United States conflict.

In recent months, the Chilean telecommunications industry has been able to adapt to telework, distance education, and agreements with content providers. However, the Covid-19 pandemic revealed inequalities in coverage and quality of three types: users who stopped contracting due to lack of income; geographical areas with service failures due to less availability of services; and digital illiteracy. The senator for the Chilean Socialist Party Juan Pablo Letelier - in turn, president of the Transport and Telecommunications Commission - explained that the country is in its first steps of discussion about the Internet as a public service, in a context in which “they demonstrated the problems in coverage and quality, because the industry tends to provide services where it can skim, and neglects quality in lower-income areas," he said.

Read full article

MORE ANALYSIS

Globales · Operators14/05/2026

Telefónica’s two sides: growth in core markets, Latin America sales weigh on profit

In the first quarter of 2026, it generated revenues of €8.127 billion, representing a 0.8% year-on-year increase at constant exchange rates. The sale of its operations in Chile, Colombia, and Mexico resulted in a €798 million loss. It closed March with 297.9 million mobile accesses and 74.9 million fixed broadband subscriptions.

América Latina · Regulation · Operators13/05/2026

GSMA M360 Latam and CLTD kick off in Mexico

The events will bring together telecom operator CEOs and heads of regulators from across the region. The discussion will focus on the challenges the digital ecosystem is facing to succeed at a time when operators’ business models are undergoing a profound transformation.

América Latina · Operators11/05/2026

Liberty Latin America consolidated postpaid growth in the first quarter

The operator added 50,000 new lines across the countries in which it operates, with Costa Rica, Panama, and Jamaica standing out. It also recorded slight increases in RGUs in Costa Rica and Jamaica. Total revenues reached US$1.083 billion, in line with the same period a year earlier.

América Latina · Operators12/05/2026

Millicom acquisitions drive 45% revenue growth

Revenue rounded out at US$2 billion in the first quarter of 2026. Mobile customers reached 57.3 million, a 37.8% increase compared with a year earlier.

Argentina · Operators08/05/2026

Internet Day 2026

WISP proposes ISPs monetize in-home experience with WiFi-as-a-Service model

List all analysis

A DIARIO LATINO 16-05-2026

Uruguay · Regulation · Spectrum 15/05/2026

Government prepares new 5G spectrum auction

Globales · Economy · Politics 15/05/2026

Few announcements from CEOs’ China trip with Trump

América Latina · Software and Applications · Regulation · Operators 15/05/2026

M360 and CLTD centered on regional digital debate

América Latina · Submarine Cables · Terrestrial Backbones 15/05/2026

C3ntro and Telconet announce new CSN-2 submarine and terrestrial cable system

List all news