Ministry steps up universal access program

The Communications Ministry of Colombia has unveiled its plans for the rest of this year for its ongoing universal access program, Compartel. A new Compartel head, Raul Amaya, was put in place this week and the government says it expects him to significantly increase telecoms network coverage in rural areas, in addition to expanding broadband connectivity to public-funded institutions such as schools, city halls and hospitals. Compartel’s annual budget totals some USD25.5 million; in 2005 it expects to deploy an additional 50 next-generation public internet telecentres to add to the existing 1,440, as well as around 300 rural wireline connections.