National Agenda for Connectivity (ANC) - National Commision on Connectivity

In implementing the guidelines of the Agenda for Connectivity in the Americas and Plan of Action of Quito, the Government of Ecuador has promoted the major initiatives described below:

In 2001, the National Commission on Connectivity (CNC) was established by Executive Decree. Initially, it had responsibility for adoption of the National Agenda for Connectivity. The Commission has a Board of Directors, chaired by the President of the National Council on Telecommunications (CONATEL) and comprises eight government ministers and the President of the National Council on State Modernization.

Adopted in Executive Decree No 3393 of December 2002 as a priority state policy, the National Agenda for Connectivity (ANC) is a dynamic strategic plan containing policies, strategies, programs, and projects designed to provide Ecuadorian society with domestic, subregional, and international communication capability through the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). Its aim is to promote evolution towards the Information and Communication Society and to ensure exercise of the right to access and use ICTs in a fair and democratic manner in order to facilitate the integral human development of the people of the Republic of Ecuador.

The strategic thematic areas or programs of the National Agenda for Connectivity are: access infrastructure, distance education, tele-health, e-government, and e-commerce.

The success of the Agenda depends on ongoing and active participation by society’s lead players - civil society and the public and private sectors. In implementing the Agenda, account is being taken of the principles of equity and universality by making access universally available throughout Ecuadorian territory.

1. ACCESS INFRASTRUCTURE (AI) PROGRAM

1.1 PRIORITY INFRASTRUCTURE ACTIONS INCLUDED IN THE ANC’s 2005-2010 PLAN OF ACTION

1. Increase rates of telephone line penetration in rural and marginal urban areas by installing multipurpose community telecenters.

2. Increase national rates of Internet penetration and promote greater use of this tool.

3. Promote lower costs of Internet access by expanding the supply of Internet capacity.

4. Promote the expansion of international traffic capacity through the use of fiber optics.

5. Enhance connectivity conditions of university and research centers to global high-speed networks.

1.2 INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS OF THE 2005-2010 PLAN OF ACTION

1.2.1 Project IA.1: Regulations on licensing to provide telecommunication services in rural areas

1.2.2 Project IA.2: Regulations on telecommunication network unbundling

1.2.3 Project IA.3: Awarding contracts for and installation of 520 multipurpose community telecenters (PROMEC Project)

1.2.4 Project IA.4: Telephony and Internet Access Program through installation of 5000 telecenters (Project “K”)

1.2.5 Project IA.5: Awarding contracts for and installation of 72 mobile telecenters

1.2.6 Project IA.6: National Information and Communication Infrastructure, by connecting all fiber optics of state entities and expanding outgoing capacity by means of submarine cables

1.2.7 Project IA.7: Advanced Internet

1.2.8 Project IA.8: Flat Tariff for Internet Access

1.2.9 Project IA.9: Universal Internet Availability Plan

1.2.10 Project IA.10: Regulations for the provision of Internet Services and Operation of NAPs

2 DISTANCE EDUCATION (DE) PROGRAM

2.1 PRIORITY DISTANCE EDUCATION ACTIONS INCLUDED IN THE ANC’s 2005-2010 PLAN OF ACTION

1. By 2010, provide public rural, marginal urban, and urban public schools with at least one computer for every 50 students.

2. By 2007, train 25% and by 2010, 100%, of public and private partially state-funded (fiscomisonal) educational and institutional staff in the use and application of information and communication technologies in the classroom.

3. By mid-2006, make available to the basic education sector the national educational software that has been developed, promoting its use at the national level.

4. Promote the development of new complementary educational software tools.

5. Provide public schools and colleges with over 1000 students with broadband Internet access and, by late 2007, with connection to a high-speed network.

2.2 DISTANCE EDUCATION PROJECTS OF THE 2005-2010 PLAN OF ACTION

2.2.1 Project TE.1: Provision of broadband services for schools

2.2.2 Project TE.2: National Tele-education Network

2.2.3 Project TE.3: Procurement of PCs for schools, teacher training, development of educational software, and introduction of educational software in the national education system

2.2.4 Project TE.4: Alliance for Education, technological cooperation agreement between the Ecuadorian government and Microsoft.

2.2.5 Project TE.5: National Distance Education Portal and Virtual Library.

3 TELE-HEALTH (TH) PROGRAM

3.1 PRIORITY TELE-HEALTH ACTIONS INCLUDED IN THE ANC’s 2005-2010 PLAN OF ACTION

1. By mid-2006, implement the tele-health portal.

2. Provide the different entities comprising the Ministry of Public Health network with a connectivity network to be used to exchange information rapidly, reliably, and on a timely basis by implementing a pilot project by 2007.

3. By late 2009, implement the complete digital clinical history for the entire population (Ecuadorians and resident aliens).

3.2 TELE-HEALTH PROJECTS OF THE 2005-2010 PLAN OF ACTION

Based on the Universal Health Insurance Plan, the National Agenda for Connectivity establishes the following projects for the use and exploitation of ICTs in this program:

3.2.1 Project TS.1: Tele-health portal

3.2.2 Project TS.2: Digital clinical history

3.2.3 Project TS.3: National tele-health network

3.2.4 Project TS.4: Mother and child health care project

4 E-GOVERNMENT (EG) PROGRAM

4.1 PRIORITY E-GOVERNMENT ACTIONS INCLUDED IN THE ANC’S 2005-2010 PLAN OF ACTION

1. Establish policies for the use of ICTs in government entities.

2. Train officials in the use of ICTs with a view to state modernization.

3. Implement pilot projects.

4. Establish and implement a high capacity communication network among government entities that includes a high capacity Internet access node.

5. Disseminate available e-government services.

4.2 E-GOVERNMENT PROJECTS OF THE 2005-2010 PLAN OF ACTION

4.2.1 Project GL.1: Government formalities portal

4.2.2 Project GL.2: Transparency of public information

4.2.3 Project GL.3: Government connectivity network

5 E-COMMERCE (EC) PROGRAM

5.1 PRIORITY E-COMMERCE ACTIONS INCLUDED IN THE ANC’S 2005-2010 PLAN OF ACTION

1. Define policies and strategies to promote a culture of use of electronic signatures and electronic billing.

2. In conjunction with government entities, take steps to support the electronic signature and electronic billing process.

3. Train public officials and producing sector representatives.

4. In conjunction with the Ecuadorian Council on Foreign Trade and Investment (COMEXI), take steps to support the dissemination of electronic signatures and electronic billing.

5.2 E-COMMERCE PROJECTS OF THE 2005-2010 PLAN OF ACTION

5.2.1 Project CE.1: Regulation and implementation of electronic billing

5.2.2 Project CE.2: Digital signature pilot project

5.2.3 Project CE.3: On-line import licenses

Juan Carlos Solines
Chair CONATEL
e-mail: presidencia@conatel.gov.ec

José Vivanco
Adviser of CONATEL
e-mail: JVivanco@conatel.gov.ec