Vive Digital hits target of 8.8 million broadband users ahead of schedule

Colombia’s Ministry of Information Technology and Communication (MinTIC) has announced that its ‘Vive Digital’ campaign has exceeded its target of increasing broadband subscriptions to 8.8 million, reaching its set goal ahead of its end-2014 deadline. ICT Minister Diego Molano Vega revealed that the strategy, which was launched in 2010 when there were just 2.2 million broadband connections, will see high speed broadband made available in all municipalities by the end of the year: ‘Earlier this government only about 200 municipalities were connected to high speed internet, today more than 928 municipalities already have fibre-optics and in 2014 1,078 municipalities will be part of this network.’ As well as assisting with the funding of national infrastructure projects, the Vive Digital plan has subsidised broadband services for 1.6 million low-income families, including providing or assisting with the purchase of devices. Further, the ministry has provided nearly two million computers and tablets to schools since 2010.