PLENARY 2: Satellite Communications Making Connectivity Accessible and Affordable to Latin-American Countries to Reduce the Digital Divide – Host Plenary
Monday 26 September 2016, 18:15 – 19:30
Location: Guadalajara Hall 4,5,6,9&10
Connectivity and Internet access has been always a limitation to allow the inclusion and access to the information society for several millions of inhabitants in this world. This has produced the so-called digital divide that not only produces an impact in the access to basic services but also is an important limitation to their economic growth.
In Latin America, this factor is particularly bigger due the added challenge of geographical disperser communities that also are normally with a very difficult access and with many disadvantages. Just as a reference, in Mexico we have more than 100,000 small communities under this description, they account for around less than 10% of the total population adding restrictions to make feasible to find a suitable business model to provided services.
Moderator

Panelists

Gerardo RUIZ ESPARZA
Minister of Communications and Transports of Mexico
Mexico

Ruy PINTO
Chief Digital Transformation Officer, INMARSAT
Brazil

Carlos SLIM HELÚ
Chairman, CARSO Group
Mexico

Matthew DESCH
CEO, Iridium Satellite LLC
United States

Mauricio BOURONCLE
Chief Commercial Officer, Americas for Iridium
Peru