Colombia rethinking Bitcoin & Blockchain?

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ICT proposals by Iván Duque
Iván Duque, presidential candidate for the Democratic Center party.
Photo: AFP

EL TIEMPO
What do you propose for the technology sector?

Iván Duque
When I am asked about ICT, I say ICT is quality of life. It's not gadgets, it's not circuits, it's not antennas. It is how we improve the quality of life by bringing knowledge and goods and services closer to people. I want mobile applications to be a mechanism from which the State begins to think about how it facilitates citizens' access to services. Therefore, I am proposing to use big data and #blockchain as tools. Big Data in health, agriculture, infrastructure, technology, and security. If we want to give more transparency to the bidding processes in the State, #blockchain technology has to help.

EL TIEMPO
Asomóvil figures assure that the telecommunications sector registers seven consecutive quarters with negative growth. How would you overcome this crisis in your government?

Iván Duque
We need to bring 4G coverage to all the rural areas of Colombia, and this means encouraging sustained billion-dollar investments by telecommunications companies, on the one hand, and by companies that provide services on their networks. In white silver, this means adopting policies of long-term regulatory and tax stability; create and consolidate a convergent and independent regulator; allocate the resources raised in surcharges to the sector to accompany the deployment of infrastructure in the most remote areas, and not divert them to cover the fiscal gap. In addition, it is important to harmonize ICT regulation with non-ICT strategic sectors that are interdependent, such as construction (where something is built or repaired should be used to deploy and optimize connectivity),

EL TIEMPO
How to strengthen the adoption of technology throughout the national territory?

Iván Duque
In addition to the fact that we are going to bring 4G coverage to all of Colombia's streets, we have a billion dollars parked in the General Royalty System, which we have not known how to invest in science and technology. We are going to develop biotechnology programs in the areas of the entrance to the Amazon and we will have very well structured programs to increase the base of engineers in the country. In addition, I plan to increase the companies that are designing mobile applications.

EL TIEMPO
What is your opinion about the convergent regulator?

Iván Duque
As a country, we have a timid attitude towards technology and we have fatal regulatory problems. This is a sector that we are hyper-regulating every day, and this hyper-regulation hinders the development of technology. I would look for Colombia to migrate towards greater deregulation through a convergent regulator.

EL TIEMPO:
The National Government is trying to auction the 700 Mhz band, but so far it has not been possible. What is your position regarding this process?

Iván Duque
In terms of spectrum, an urgent allocation of the 700 MHz band is needed, key for rural coverage and digital inclusion of the most remote regions. In the same way, the convergent uses of the spectrum and activation of secondary markets for a more efficient use and the early adoption of what will be the 5G coverages and the internet of things. In digital adoption, it is necessary to improve access to devices with greater capacity and better connectivity, with policies that make the technology more affordable, in addition to a user's digital identity agenda and effective data protection.

SOURCES: http://m.eltiempo.com/tecnosfera/novedades-tecnologia/las-propuestas-de-ivan-duque-en-tecnologia-y-telecomunicaciones-218860

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