Luis Eduardo Aguiar, Acting Vice Minister of Connectivity for Colombia, participated in Andesco 2025 and spoke about the progress of the Comprehensive Digital Connectivity Expansion Plan, which has already mobilized US$2.8 billion in investments to bring Internet to the most remote areas of the country and advance the democratization of digital access.
In addition, the ICT Ministry presented the Territorially Focused Connectivity Strategy, projected to run until 2035. Its goal is to bring fixed Internet to three million homes, connect 12,326 communities through Internet Boards, reach more than 9,000 new educational institutions and deploy 12,272 kilometers of fiber optic cable throughout the country.
During the closing session of the 27th Andesco Congress ‘Public Services, ICT and TV’, the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology reaffirmed its commitment to closing the digital divide in Colombia. From connectivity to effective monitoring, the ICT portfolio continues to advance an agenda that promotes equity, territorial development and the country’s Digital Transformation.
“The dream of every government must be to close the digital divide: for everyone to be connected, for quality services, legal security for participants and a return on investment. But to achieve this, we need to innovate in financing models, overcome the disconnect between governments and attract international investment. Only in this way can we guarantee connectivity, education and true digital inclusion for all,” emphasized Luis Eduardo Aguiar Delgadillo, Acting Deputy Minister of Connectivity for Colombia.
The Andesco Congress, which promotes dialogue and co-operation between the public sector, private companies and civil society to strengthen the provision of essential services, was the venue where Aguiar presented the progress led by the ICT Ministry in expanding digital infrastructure. In his speech, he highlighted the Comprehensive Digital Connectivity Expansion Plan 2026-2035, a roadmap that seeks to bring fixed Internet to three million new homes, connect 1,100 municipalities, more than 9,000 educational institutions and 12,326 Internet Boards throughout the country through a robust fiber optic network extending 12,272 kilometers.
Among the advances this strategy has made over the past three years, it was highlighted that, since 2022, Colombia has invested US$2.8 billion in connectivity, reaching historic milestones such as connecting more than 19,000 schools, increasing coverage from 12% in 2022 to 25% in 2025, connecting 130,000 homes and deploying an additional 767 kilometers of fiber optic cable. These results demonstrate the co-ordinated effort between the national government, private sector and regions to close the country’s digital divide.
Aguiar also highlighted the implementation of the new surveillance, inspection and control model, the centerpiece of which is the Communications Monitoring and Information Center. This space allows for data integration, promotes transparency and professional governance, and enables the adoption of public policies with a long-term vision and measurable results. In his final message, he emphasized the importance of working toward transformative connectivity: connectivity that guarantees digital inclusion, trust, legal certainty and sustainable financing alternatives for the country.
