NEC 2015 Annual Report Download - page 31

Business Activities for Solving Social Issues
Contribute to Creating an Equal Society in Colombia through ICT
In Colombia, South America, raising international competitiveness in
some key social fields such as health care, education, politics, and
agriculture, is an urgent task for economic growth and for improving
the quality of citizens’ lives. Yet, inequitable distribution of benefits
depending on residence is a problem. To eliminate this inequality,
Colombia has taken a number of measures, but among them ICT
shows tremendous potential. However, hampered by a harsh
environment, including rugged mountain terrain and the Amazon
rainforest, the Internet penetration rate in Colombia was only about
18% in 2013 and roughly just 1% in non-urban areas
(in reference to MINTIC site;
http://colombiatic.mintic.gov.co/602/w3-article-5085.html).
Colombia
Support to “Vive Digital”
Colombia’s Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications
(MINTIC) is promoting the spread of ICT infrastructure throughout
the country under the Plan Vive Digital, a measure aimed at closing
the digital divide and having all citizens enjoy the benefits of ICT,
and a pillar of its policy for economic development.
As part of the Plan Vive Digital, NEC participated in Kiosco Vive
Digital, which aims to create more than 4,200 ICT rooms as Internet
access points throughout Colombia. NEC was selected to participate
as a project member, through the official public bid process in
Colombia, because of its experience setting up Internet connections
in numerous countries, its capability of offering detailed support
locally and for proposing a deployment plan in anticipation of
Colombia’s future.
In this project, NEC built an Internet environment via communication
satellites for approximately 650 community spaces, including schools
and community centers in the areas that are located far from urban
zones and have less than 100 residents, and installed PCs, printers
and IP phones. In this way, places where it had been difficult to obtain
the latest information, such as the Amazon wilderness and
mountainous regions, can now gather information and do business via
the Internet.
Always Keeping Abreast of Residents’ Needs through
Interactive Communication
Through this plan, the Colombian government, which until then had
no means of swift and reliable communication with these remote
villages, was able to communicate and provide information to all
citizens, including background on vital areas such as health care,
education, politics, and agriculture.
To further enhance the plan’s effectiveness and to connect to
future development, MINTIC took the lead in interacting closely with
residents and constantly gathering feedback from various regions.
As a result, demand for ICT environments exceeded expectations
and the need for an increase in network connections mounted with
the sharp growth in the number of users of the terminals. In
addition, the need for improved access to education has become
evident with the increased ability of residents to express their
needs. Colombia has begun a study to determine the best steps it
can take based on this feedback.
By uncovering and solving social issues that are closely tied to
the community and customers, NEC will help bring about an
abundant and equal society where individuals can thrive and
everyone can enjoy the benefits of ICT.
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NEC Corporation
Annual Report 2015
Business Activities for Value Creation