Informatics and communications, fuel to our development in 2021

Boosting the development of informatics and communications in the current panorama of economic crisis due to Covid-19 and the U.S. blockade, is one of the top strategies to favor the economic and social development of the country, stated Jorge Luis Perdomo Di-Lella, Cuba’s minister of Communications at the TV program Mesa Redonda.

The goal is to introduce this sector in the new human behaviors, as Covid-19 has demonstrated a rise, globally, in the digitalization of operations; for instance, the e-commerce. The idea, he pointed out, is to implement more dynamic processes not only to sale services, but also to perform procedures.

Di-Lella also talked about the work carried out on the infrastructure of telecommunications, which is still half way to the final goal. Nonetheless, he highlighted the progress of the cell phone services: launched internet service with mobile data in 2018, the investment for the deployment of 3G network, and all the ongoing work carried out to achieve a steady development and update of today’s 4G network.

He also gave details on the increased access to Internet in governmental institutions such as those of health and education, in large part because of this new normalcy imposed by Covid-19, and offered insides about the work to do once foreign tourism resumes, so the nation may provide a better quality product.

The Nauta Hogar service will expand its service. Wireless and fiber optic technology to the apartment buildings will be used, especially those with high number of apartments. He also confirmed that digital television must be further strengthened. In this line, from the second quarter of this year on, there will be a wider commercialization of set-top boxes.

The specialist reported that most of the sales will take place wherever the transition from analogic to digital television may be imminent and also stated that this upgrading process is crucial for the nation’s energy savings plans and moreover, freeing frequencies necessary to continue developing 4G and 4G+ mobile and fixed broadband.

How to use this infrastructure based on the economy and the population?

Cuba’s minister of Communications discussed that with that plan of national informatization, all this created infrastructure will boost e-commerce and e-government, with which the population may have access to more national services and enjoy a better life quality.

On e-commerce, he said that it needs a perfect organizational structure that goes beyond being present in a web-based platform. The immediate goal is to get a legal invoice with a digital signature so workers may pay their taxes this way, as in the case of private workers.

On the other hand, among the main challenges this year, the goal is to improve interaction between governments and their citizens, which goes beyond having a website on Internet, in addition to achieving greater interactivity so people may get their licenses, pay fines or taxes, and perform other procedures digitally.

The minister of Communications also emphasized that the sector of the informatics industry is paramount to our economy. Hence, universities may converge as a space for sharing knowledge, creating and enhancing offers of digital services. He also made reference to the sales in Apklis of applications by natural and legal persons.

“The work, this year, must be aimed at promoting greater levels of sales and services digitally in order to contribute with the economy in the trade activity, targeting the population’s satisfaction,” added Jorge Luis Perdomo.

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff