Press release -
BT helping to bridge Colombia's digital divide
New Vive digital contract brings remote communities online
BT today announced that it has won a contract in a public bidding process in Colombia to connect 591 new Vive Digital kiosks (Kioscos Vive Digital) across the country. These kiosks will be located in rural parts of Colombia and will allow people living in these remote areas to connect to the internet, access e-learning and e-training services as well as a range of online public services.
The £16.2 million, 30-month contract is part of Vive Digital (Live Digital), the Colombian Government’s technology programme run by the Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications (MinTic).
To deliver this initiative, BT will again partner with Colombian company INRED to provide the learning and training applications, as well as the ICT education and skills required to make this beneficial to the community, while BT will supply the satellite connectivity and related technology services.
Vive Digital promotes the creation of an ambitious digital ecosystem through the mass use of the Internet in order to reduce poverty and create jobs. Vive Digitalhas been led by MinTic since 2010.
BT has contributed to the Colombian Government’s efforts to reduce the country’s digital divide since 2004, initially as part of the Compartel programme, which was replaced by Vive Digital in 2010. The programmes have already delivered significant benefits in terms of new infrastructure and business opportunities across the country. They also made a significant social impact in terms of cost savings, job opportunities and improved productivity for the users. According to recent BT research, 200,000 kiosk users - local farmers, unemployed, job seekers, students and community members – benefited from the programme to the extent of an estimated £1.8 million per annum between 2013 and 2015.
Bas Burger, President, BT Americas, said, “We are very proud to be able to help Colombia build stronger communities through the power of our technology and the commitment of our people. We share the same vision as the Colombian Government regarding the positive impact that information technology can make on the lives of individuals, local communities, and to society as a whole.”
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BT’s purpose is to use the power of communications to make a better world. It is one of the world’s leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband, TV and internet products and services; and converged fixed-mobile products and services. Following the acquisition of EE on 29 January 2016, BT consists principally of six customer-facing lines of business: BT Global Services, BT Business, BT Consumer, EE, BT Wholesale and Openreach.
For the year ended 31 March 2015, BT Group’s reported revenue was £17,979m with reported profit before taxation of £2,645m.
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