Pablo Álvarez, Antel’s vice president, called for a clear definition of digital sovereignty as the term takes on increasingly varied meanings, some even contradictory. For Uruguay’s state-owned telecom operator, sovereignty means preserving the ability to make its own decisions and act independently.

The executive highlighted Antel’s path toward sovereignty, from the public vote to keep it state-owned to its decision to participate in submarine cable projects. investment in data center infrastructure and efforts to ensure nationwide connectivity. As of last June, its fiber-optic network had reached every town and city with at least 1,000 residents. “The plan is to extend that coverage to towns with 100 homes by 2028. That is sovereignty for us,” he said.

Antel is also expanding its infrastructure through data centers and is preparing to inaugurate an AI-ready facility that would allow sensitive data to remain under local control. “With the US$70 million in planned investment, we will not be able to match the much larger sums invested by major technology companies. This requires scale and determination. It means the country acting collectively and exercising democracy, for example, through Parliament, which must ensure that certain things remain under sovereign control,” he explained.

Álvarez also extended the concept of sovereignty to regional cooperation. "Thinking about providing infrastructure across the region and exploring shared infrastructure are challenging. Sometimes this is more difficult than what we can do within our own countries, but we must at least be able to consider it," he said.

Other speakers at the event offered their perspectives on sovereignty. Alexis Spittle, an account executive at Telxius, discussed the concept in the context of the Caribbean market, which comprises multiple geographically dispersed markets with sustained and growing demand for connectivity and infrastructure.

“The Caribbean was once seen as a transit region. Today, the changing role of data centers and the evolution of digital technologies are driving demand for critical infrastructure. In this context, sovereignty means having more routes, more connectivity and more hubs. That will be the foundation for integrating the Caribbean as a region,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pablo Prieto, who leads special projects at Padtec, announced the launch of Padtec Marine Networks, marking the company’s return to the submarine cable segment. He highlighted Padtec’s position as a regional manufacturer and linked it to the debate over technological sovereignty. The company designs and manufactures optical equipment in Campinas, including transponders with capacities of up to 800 Gbps and 1.2 Tbps. Its business model also allows operators to own and operate the equipment they purchase without depending on recurring license fees.