National strategy for broadband development in the Dominican Republic

The most efficient policy that a State can draw up to promote broadband would be to bring its citizens closer to information and communication technologies (ICTs). For this purpose, General Telecommunication Act No. 153-98 was adopted and enacted on May 27, 1998, one of whose principal objectives is the development of telecommunications. The Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (Instituto Dominicano de Telecomunicaciones—INDOTEL) accepted the challenge of providing the country with a Connectivity Agenda, which has been building up public policies aimed at reasserting Universal Service. This task of fostering universal service is being conducted with the help of all the state entities involved in information and communication technologies and by the private sector on the basis of resources coming from the Telecommunication Development Fund for (Fondo para el Desarrollo de las Telecomunicaciones—FDT), because funding to develop the various projects come from a part of the percentage established from the Contribution to the Development of Telecommunications (Contribución al Desarrollo de las Telecomunicaciones—CDT).

The Dominican Republic is immersed in the process of becoming inserted in the new economy and the so-called Information and Knowledge Society. In this framework of ideas, the Dominican Government has understood the need to draw up guidelines and policies for mass access to, and quality of, public services, based on society’s new forms of electronic interaction, and broadband is an essential tool for reaching this goal. As a result, it has incorporated into its public policies, on the basis of a broad state vision, the plans, projects and strategies it has deemed more adequate and in line with the Dominican reality for the maximum development of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in all spheres.

The Government has defined actions to develop a better relationship between the State and citizens, with the support of ICTs, to promote universal access with the best connectivity possible at a reasonable cost, fostering the expansion of infrastructure and technological innovation, and to improve access services at an affordable price, thus focusing more on services than on infrastructure. A concrete example of these actions has been the establishment of INDOTEL in 1998, as well as the Presidential Office for Information and Communication Technologies (Oficina Presidencial para las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación—OPTIC), among other initiatives, whose basic duty is to draw up policies and strategies to develop ICTs in the Dominican Republic, through e-government programs, education, ICT penetration in rural and marginal urban zones, which for the most part use and promote broadband technologies.

INDOTEL implements projects with applications that require the use of broadband, as a way to reassert the principle of universal service, which not only includes telephony but also Internet access and other applications. Public rural telephony projects, community telecenters, tele-education and telemedicine and private initiatives, such as the Dominican Network of Computer Laboratories (Red Dominicana de Laboratorios de Informática—REDOM) and the Virtual Classrooms for Teaching (Aulas Virtuales para la Enseñanza—AVE), are examples that highlight the political and private will to bridge the digital divide.

In the Dominican Republic, end-use broadband services are provided by the concession holders TRICOM, All America Cables & Radio, Inc. Dominican Republic (CENTENNIAL DOMINICANA) and VERIZON DOMINICANA. The technologies that make broadband available are: xDSL, cable modem, WiFi, and satellite access using VSAT technology. The use of broadband and Internet access have grown considerably over the past six years. For example, in 1998, there were 18,760 Internet accounts, and in March 2006, there were 140,503 accounts, of which 57,041 use DSL technology; therefore close to 50% of existing accounts use broadband.

II. INITIATIVES IMPLEMENTED BY THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO PROMOTE BROADBAND AND ACCESS TO INTERNET

INDOTEL promotes initiatives to promote the use and understanding of ICTs and funds development projects in accordance with the specific mandates of General Telecommunication Act No.153-98, which in Article 3, paragraph a), subparagraphs i) and iii), provides that the institution has the duty to draw up a Biannual Plan of Development Projects funded by resources from the Telecommunication Development Fund (FDT). When funding is allocated for specific telecommunication development projects, the FDT strives to: (a) contribute to the economic development and social welfare of the entire country; (b) promote technological innovation in the telecommunication sector; (c) promote competition on the telecommunication market in the Dominican Republic; and (d) establish self-sufficient services with a market orientation, operations and business that will continue to expand access to communications by the sector’s own initiative.

Some of the most important initiatives and projects that use broadband technology and promote access to Internet are described below:

2.1. Public Rural Telephony Project

The Public Telephony Project incorporates the country’s remotest areas into the incredible boom that has been experienced by our telecommunication sector, trying to remedy the imbalance that has excluded a large percentage of the population from the right to benefit from communication technology.

This project consisted in the installation of at least one public phone, transmitting domestic and international incoming and outgoing phone calls at affordable prices in those places where there is a population of over 300 inhabitants, according to the data of the 1993 Population Census, and that at the time did not have any telecommunication services. In April 2001, INDOTEL launched the first international public bidding process for the implementation of the project’s first phase, and the company CODETEL (now VERIZON) was awarded the contract. In Phase I of the project, there were 500 beneficiary localities and Phase II has benefited more than 1,750 communities in 18 provinces of the country providing telecommunication services (voice telephony) in areas where other operators did not provide it.

2.2. Telemedicine Project with the State Secretariat of Public Health and Social Welfare (Secretaría de Estado de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social—SESPAS)

The telemedicine project systematically uses telecommunications to modernize the health sector through distance training of medical staff, the exchange of diagnoses and consultations, as well as the referral of patients from one level of the public health network to another. The concrete results that are expected involve savings of resources in the delivery of services and greater efficiency in the treatment and prevention of disease.

The telemedicine project is comprised of three components: 1. Installation of a radio communication system. 2. Access to Internet in the principal hospitals. 3. Installation of telecommunication equipment for local and international videoconferences.

2.2.1. Radiocommunication component

The purpose of this component is to promote the consolidation of the patient referral system of the State Secretariat of Public Health and Social Welfare (SESPAS) and guarantee communication with the most remote places of the country’s northern region, enabling fast and qualified services in places that did not benefit from the intervention of specialists. The contract was awarded on January 24, 200 to TRICOM, S. A.

2.2.2. Videoconferencing and Internet Access Components

The purpose of the videoconference components is the design and implementation of a room with latest technological breakthroughs in data and image transmission, which can connect with both national and international specialized centers, thus facilitating the training of human resources that provide medical services in the State Secretariat of Public Health and Social Welfare.

As a result of the implementation of this second component, we shall have 5 centers that will be equipped with videoconference rooms and 22 hospitals equipped with computers with Internet access, for a total of 27. Therefore, access shall be provided to a wide range of information and knowledge and this shall lead to greater efficiency in the case and patient referral system and facilitate user access to information. The videoconference and Internet access components were awarded on June 7, 2002 to CODETEL (now VERIZON DOMINICANA).

2.3. Tele-education project in coordination with the State Secretariat of Education (SEE)

The tele-education project was established to promote training outreach to children and adults by creating a national network and access to an education and management portal via Internet for the transfer of information technology to those living in rural and low-income urban areas. This project is comprised of two components: the WAN Network and the Platform of Portals.

2.3.1. WAN Network Component

This component, awarded to the company VERIZON, interconnects in a national education network (Wide Area Network—WAN) the regional offices, school districts, laboratories in high schools and public schools of the SEE, which functions as the component’s headquarters. The infrastructure shall enable the teaching and administrative staff and the students to share information internally, as well as gain access to the SEE portal and Internet.

2.3.2. Digital Libraries Component

This project fosters the use of technology among students and teachers, by the installation of computers, Internet connection and other media resources, which include digital education content material in school libraries on the premises of the country’s high schools and public schools.

This project envisages the creation of 109 virtual libraries in school establishments and selected those centers with the best technical and physical conditions.

2.3.3. Education Portal Project

As for the Education Portal platform, it consists of the design and development of a portal for applications and access of students, teachers, and administrative staff of the educational community. It consists of provision of all the equipment and services required for the implementation and operation of the portal from SEE headquarters. This project is aimed at becoming a tool for enhancing the creativity and training of the players of the education process, including students and teachers as well as the other players involved (parents and guardians, public officials, etc.).

2.4. Community Technological Centers Project

INDOTEL, in coordination with the Office of the President of the Republic, implemented the project called Small Intelligent Communities of the Dominican Republic (Pequeñas Comunidades Inteligentes de República Dominicana), which consists of building technology centers for community development in rural communities, especially border communities. These telecenters enable those living near the border to gain access to information and communication technologies, Internet, long-distance phone service, and fax transmission, among other services, at affordable prices.

Likewise, INDOTEL has started up, with the First Lady’s Office, a project for the effective establishment of 135 Technological Centers for Community Development (Centros Tecnológicos para el Desarrollo Comunitario—CTDC) and the implementation, in the first stage, of 40 Computer Training Centers (Centros de Capacitación Informática—CCI), of which 34 have been inaugurated.

The CTDC are premises equipped with operating computer technology units for public use, with access to Internet, telephony, teleconferencing, fax service, printing equipment, photocopying machines, as well as the availability of the following equipment: VHS, digital photo camera and video recorders, for conducting technology training activities. Likewise, the CTDC shall be operating low-powered radio stations on the Frequency Modulated (FM) band, with a range diameter of about 10 kms. The CCI consist of computer training centers located in marginal urban centers, where citizens can learn about technology directly and take advantage of it for daily use.

2.5. Biannual Plan 2005–2007

The development projects envisaged in the Biannual Plan 2005-2007 come under three areas: (1) projects for access to telephony, Internet and information and communication technologies (ICTs), (2) projects for support to education, and (3) projects to support public services (e-government).

2.6. Agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

On March 24, 2003, INDOTEL signed an agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This agreement secured UNDP support for the drafting of a National Strategy on Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for Development, which included the drafting of the Connectivity Agenda of the Dominican Republic and the exploration of other areas of collaboration and cooperation that will be drawn up in the future.

Last year, 2005, INDOTEL launched the first version of the E-Dominican Strategy. For its drafting, it was broken down into 11 Priority Areas of the country or sectors of national life, such as health, knowledge, the environment, young people, government, the productive sector, social development and justice, with the implementation of an assessment of their current situation and main needs. This assessment served as the groundwork and point of departure for the drafting of sector projects that culminated the drafting of the strategy.

III. CONCLUSION, CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES

The Dominican Republic has the legal and technical tools to take up the challenges of effectively providing information and communication technologies (ICTs) through the use of broadband and creating greater access to Internet.

Promoting successful broadband and Internet connections requires the collaboration of all the players involved. INDOTEL, as the regulatory body for telecommunications in the Dominican Republic, is firmly committed to participating, along with other government institutions, the private sector, the academic community, nongovernmental organizations and civil society, in transforming ICTs into a concrete benefit for all citizens, guaranteeing greater access and better service.

In this context, there are many challenges facing all entities involved in this process, including INDOTEL. Promoting the use of broadband technology shall contribute to inserting the country into the Information Society and shall play an important role in bridging the digital divide. Greater and better access to technology at reasonable costs should be achieved, taking into consideration that, in developing countries such as the Dominican Republic, income and education levels are some of the principal constraints.

Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones
(INDOTEL)