The world economy progresses, and already many poor countries have found in borderless connectivity a source of employment capable of dragging over all sectors, including their own GDP(Gross Domestic Product). Some time ago we published the post “Internet es empleo” (Internet means jobs) having some of the formulas that make connectivity an indisputable source of income.
This week I’ve re-read two articles from my former professor at the IE Business School, Enrique Dans: “India, materializing an emerging technology-based economy” and “The awakening of a connected Africa“. Additionally, Spain’s ABC newspaper, published the article “Rwanda, the Silicon Valley of Africa?” Projects from manufacturers and operators as Connected Africa succeed, as showing that only accepting foreign aid and encouraging inward investment is how progress has to be made.
Cuba, unmoved, “slowly but surely”, has only been able to provide what I call the “Rampa WiFi” (named after one of the most popular places where a Cuban can connect), limited, expensive and impossible to use as a mean for business and services in internet. Blindness is such, that the main centers of development, focus on exporting technology Made in Cuba, with little success, wasting all the domestic market than the rest of the world wants to exploit.
The rejection of the aid of the leading technology companies, while a second cable has now reached Cuba, is irresponsible and ignores the right of everyone to progress. The manipulation of state interests over the common good is being highly damaging to the country, placing us in a worldwide last place. Saying that connectivity “is not a priority” is to assert that the economic model will follow a pattern of services with the state as a center, making it impossible to develop industry and business, and for the money to reach the pockets of citizens and the real economy.
These are times of vertigo and opportunities. It is now. This moment requires quickness to avoid been left out.
Facing this times, Somos+ expresses its full commitment to:
– Connectivity as a right.
– The neutrality of the network, a non-two-internet speed, in which neither governments nor companies prioritize some content over others.
– Total rejection of Internet censorship.
– The need for legislation adapted to technologies, independent, to protect the right of citizens to privacy.
– The condemnation of the government espionage, without there being a warrant and without being able to be checked and audited by third parties.
– The right to innovation and the creation of Cuban companies with substantial tax cuts, including incubator companies and public and private financing.
– Free trade in technologic material, without restrictions.
– Free competition between internet service providers, without any monopolies such as ETECSA, which by a unique price and the lack of any other offer, threaten the domestic economy and the quality of the service.
– Transparency and the ability to audit services paid for with public money as the cameras in the streets.
Translated by: Wilmer Obregon