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Connect Americas Summit opens in Panama City
Digital inclusion sought for inter-American
connectivity through broadband roll out
Panama City, 18 July 2012 – The Connect Americas
Summit opened today calling for a surge in the roll out of broadband
connectivity in the Americas region and ‘digital inclusion’ to enable universal,
sustainable, ubiquitous and affordable access to information and communication
technologies (ICT) and services for all. Digital inclusion implies that
everyone, in particular indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, women,
girls, youth and children can use accessible and affordable ICTs as tools for
their social and economic development.
Addressing the Summit, the President of the Republic of Panama, H.E. Ricardo
Martinelli Berrocal emphasized the need for Internet connectivity costs to be
reduced so that people not only in Panama but across the world will have access
to affordable broadband networks. He said, “The choice of Panama to host the
summit, recognizes the progress made by my Government's digital inclusion,
connectivity and Internet use.”
ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré recognized President Berrocal’s
‘Internet for All’ initiative aimed at bringing free Internet access to the
citizens of Panama and presented him with the World Telecommunication and
Information Society Award.
The President of Costa Rica H.E. Laura Chinchilla Miranda, patron of ITU’s on
Child Online Protection initiative, highlighted the importance of strengthening
security in cyberspace, especially to keep online predators at bay. In her
keynote address at the Summit, President Chinchilla said, “The younger
generations of the planet are legitimate heirs to the fortune that offers
tremendous technological developments of our time. With just a gesture of their
hands, they have the opportunity to deliver to them the history of mankind, to
travel all over the world, to venture into all the facets of science, and to
interact with those who want to regardless of race, age, nationality or
geographical location. This great technological revolution of our time belongs
to them, yet we must prevent that enjoyment from being stained. We want them to
explore with ease and security, the wonderful world of the Internet, confident
in their desire to learn with the protection we can give them.”
Vice President and Presidential designate of Honduras affirmed that the
Connect Americas Summit aims to make efficient use of existing resources in
the field of ICT which are an essential component for social development and
economic growth. He said, “It is common knowledge that ICTs are essential tools
for promoting efficiency and transparency in public administration and
strengthening the productivity of nations by streamlining productivity.”
Dominican Republic first lady and Vice President elect Margarita Cedeño said,
“In this era of knowledge, connectivity has become a prerequisite for all
people, regardless of age, sex, social status or situation, providing the
opportunities to develop their skills, enjoy a dignified and productive life,
and participate in different ways, sharing fairly and equitably the benefits of
globalization and development. I have the conviction that this summit will allow
the exchange of experiences and develop joint strategies to efficiently and
innovatively take on the challenge of ICT for human development and social
inclusion, strengthen our economy by improving the levels competition and move
ahead with regional integration, strengthening ties of cooperation and
solidarity.”
Ms Cedeño received ITU’s World Telecommunication and Information Society
Award in 2007.
ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré called for the Summit to focus on
strategies across the Americas region to drive broadband deployment forward and
to mobilize the human, financial and technical resources needed to promote
universal digital inclusion. “In terms of information and communication
technologies, the Americas region is one of the world’s most dynamic markets,”
Dr Touré said. “And yet there is still much to do. While cellular penetration is
particularly high in this region, and Internet penetration is above average,
there are still many millions of people who lack access to ICTs – which in the
21st century have become a necessary foundation for overall social and economic
development.”
“’M-powering’ people is key to meeting the development goals of
connectivity,” said Brahima Sanou, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication
Development Bureau, referring to the rapid spread of mobile broadband. “Latin
America and the Caribbean will quickly follow the lead of North America where
mobile broadband penetration has grown in the space of just a few short years
from under 10 per cent to over 65 per cent.”
Mobile applications will continue to improve the delivery of key basic
services such as health and education, as well as delivering massive benefits
across virtually every other social and economic sector. Panama itself is one of
the most successful countries in the region, with mobile penetration growing
from 16 per cent a decade ago to an extraordinary 204 per cent by early 2012.
The Connect Americas Summit is the fourth in the series of Connect
events, which have included the ITU Connect Africa Summit in Kigali, Rwanda in
2007; the ITU Connect CIS Summit in Minsk, Belarus in 2009; and the Connect Arab
States Summit in Doha, Qatar earlier this year.
The Connect Americas Summit, hosted by the Government of Panama, is
organized by ITU in close collaboration with the Inter-American
Telecommunication Commission (CITEL), the Comisión Técnica Regional de
Telecomunicaciones (COMTELCA) and the Caribbean Telecommunication Union (CTU).
It is the culmination of a series of high-level events, such as the recent
Rio+20 Earth Summit that draw attention to the power of information and
communication technologies (ICT) and broadband connectivity in meeting future
goals of sustainable development.
A number of commitments and announcements of upcoming investments in ICT
development in the Americas will be made tomorrow, 19 July as the Summit draws
to a close.
The programme is at
www.itu.int/ITU-D/connect/americas/programme.asp?Language=en
Information for Press:
Announcement of commitments at the Connect Americas Summit will be
on 19 July at 14:30 pm at the Summit venue: ATLAPA Convention Centre, Avenida
Israel, Panama City. This session will announce investments for ICT projects in
the Americas region over the next 5 years.
The Connect Americas Summit is open to media. Accreditation is
compulsory.
For accreditation procedures, please see:
www.itu.int/ITU-D/connect/americas/display.asp?QID=9794&Language=en
Please read the procedure carefully before completing the online
accreditation form. Pre-registered journalists will be requested to present
their confirmation letter, together with their passport or ID card to receive an
official Connect Americas Summit Media badge.
UN Press accreditation is valid. Please confirm your attendance to
pressreg@itu.int
For more information, see
www.itu.int/net/newsroom/connect/americas/2012/ or contact:
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Sanjay Acharya
Chief, Media Relations
and Public Information, ITU
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Media Accreditation enquiries:
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