Two projects to help close the digital divide in Ecuador arise from a Spanish company

Hispasat, the Spanish satellite telecommunications operator of the Red Eléctrica Group, delivered two teleeducation and telemedicine pilots for areas of the Ecuadorian Amazon. Miguel Ángel Panduro, CEO of the company, is visiting the country and tells details of those.

How did the idea of ​​supporting Ecuador to reduce its digital divide come about?

The digital or knowledge gap is very deep in Latin America, including Ecuador. There is a great division in the country as it does not have complete connectivity between zones. Hispasat executives had the opportunity to meet with the Ecuadorian vice president (Alfredo Borrero), three months ago, to present two projects that they wanted to carry out in the country: one for tele-education and the other for telemedicine aimed at less favored sectors via satellite.

Is Ecuador the first country to carry out this type of project?

We have promoted this type of initiative in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia, with proven technology and solutions in those nations.

What is sought with these initiatives?

Provide a solution or at least alleviate the problem of lack of connectivity for both the educational and health segments, in this case in Ecuador. On the occasion of the visit of the President of the Republic (Guillermo Lasso) and members of his cabinet to Spain, a month ago, we had the opportunity to present these two initiatives and explain their objective. The visit of the authorities promoted and accelerated the start-up.

Have these projects already entered into force?

Yes, indeed, the beneficiaries of the education pilot already have their connectivity, laptops and servers. Next week, the telemedicine project in the rural parish of Cuasha, in Pastaza, will be another reality. It must be clear that where the Wifi point is enabled, the beneficiary is not only the student at the headquarters, but the nearby communities. Yesterday (December 2), the pilot for tele-education to be built in Carchi, Orellana, Morona Santiago and Napo was presented to the Ministry of Education. The goal is to cover not just five schools and nearly 400 students, but triple that number.

Why were these areas reached in the Amazon?

We put in the hands of the Ministry of Education itself so that it could decide the five locations.

How long will teleeducation and telemedicine projects take via satellite?

It is a donation that can last one, two or three years. However, our vocation is that the pilots stay permanently and that if they like it and it is believed to be potential, it is expanded to give greater coverage to remote areas. For example, reaching more than 600 schools. We are also analyzing the option of financing this type of project either through cooperation from Spain to achieve this objective.

What are the pilots?

The tele-education allows students to download the educational content provided by the Education Portfolio on their devices and work with them at home. Each school has its Wi-Fi point enabled, that is, there are five. The pilot is completed with a technological classroom (composed of laptops for teachers, a cabinet for safekeeping and charging of devices, an interactive digital panel, a software management of the technological classroom with logical security), tablets for students and a course for teachers to learn how to use this solution. The telemedicine project, on the other hand, will allow a specialist doctor to be able, through the internet connection, to help a medical assistant from the Cuasha parish to diagnose and identify diseases with a teleconsultation system.

What is the next step to address the digital divide?

Serve productive business sectors, such as shrimp. This would be one more approach with the private sector.

What plans are there for 2022?

Seeking partners premises to promote these initial projects. For example, telecommunications installers or people from the education sector. (I)