Bogotá: The GSMA, together with Colombian mobile operators Claro, Telefónica Movistar and Tigo and trade association Asomóvil, today announced a series of joint initiatives to enhance mobile users’ experiences throughout the country. These initiatives are supported by the Colombian Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies (MinTIC) and Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development. As part of the GSMA’s wider “We Care” campaign in Latin America, they focus on tackling the key challenges of improving network coverage, managing electronic waste, reducing handset theft, as well as the use of mobile for disaster response in Colombia.
“With 26 million unique mobile subscribers and 51 million mobile connections1, Colombia is one of the fastest growing mobile markets in Latin America,” said Tom Phillips, Chief Regulatory Officer, GSMA. “We are delighted to see the private sector working together to support the Government of Colombia and provide collaborative solutions for a better, safer and more sustainable mobile experience for all Colombian citizens.”
Diego Molano Vega, Minister of Information and Communications Technologies for Colombia, commented: "It is essential to take advantage of mobile technology to help improve the lives of Colombians. We are delighted to form this partnership with the GSMA and mobile operators in Colombia to work together to tackle electronic waste management, handset theft, infrastructure deployment and disaster response."
Esteban Iriarte, CEO of Tigo, commented: "Tigo is delighted to support the We Care campaign in Colombia and make a difference on important socio-economic issues such as mobile network roll-out, electronic waste, handset theft and disaster response. We look forward to playing our part in protecting and supporting all mobile users while continuing to introduce new and exciting mobile innovations to this country."
The GSMA’s We Care campaign initiatives in Colombia focus on the following key areas:
Developing Mobile Infrastructure
To support the Government of Colombia’s efforts to further expand the roll-out of mobile networks included in its Vive Digital Plan2, national mobile operators today signed an official agreement with MinTIC to work together to:
- Launch a major public awareness campaign to highlight the importance of network deployment in Colombia and the need for expanded mobile connectivity to services in areas such as education, health, transport and business; and
- Establish forums among national and local authorities targeting local community leaders to explain how digital connectivity works and the need to solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-good/public-policy/regulatory-environment/mobile-energy-efficiencyt public health parameters established by Colombian law and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) guidelines and share the results of ongoing monitoring of mobile antennas by the National Spectrum Agency (ANE) with these forums.
Protecting the Environment
Electronic waste is a growing issue throughout the world and will increase by 17.5 per cent in Latin America3 and 19.1 per cent in Colombia between 2012 and 2015. The GSMA today released a new study4 with the latest national data on efforts to recycle mobile phones, batteries and accessories by the mobile industry. This work will support strategies for the Government’s Green Agenda for Recycling in Colombia.
National mobile operators today committed to support e-waste initiatives from the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development and MinTIC by launching a public awareness campaign through traditional and digital media platforms, encouraging citizens to support the separation and collection of e-waste.
Tackling Handset Theft
Mobile handset theft has surged in Colombia over the last few years with more than one million devices stolen last year – but crucially only 45,783 were reported to the police. The Colombian Government has introduced a series of initiatives to discourage the purchase and activation of stolen mobile phones, dismantle criminal operations behind handset theft and encourage citizens to file complaints for lost or stolen mobile devices.
The local mobile operators today signed an agreement with the National Police of Colombia to work together to combat handset theft by sharing technical, administrative, operational, financial and human resources. The agreement includes their intention to deploy the GSMA’s International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) Device Check5 system through which Colombian mobile users will be able to check in real time if a handset is included in the global list of stolen mobile phones. The GSMA IMEI blacklist database is updated on a daily basis via reports from over 120 operators around the world, including 38 operators from 15 countries in Latin America.
Improving Disaster Response
Colombia has geographical characteristics that put it at high risk for natural disasters.
National mobile operators have committed to help solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-good/public-policy/regulatory-environment/mobile-energy-efficiencyt the objectives of the National System for Emergency Telecommunications (SNTE) established by MinTIC in its Vive Digital Plan to ensure the continued provision of communication services during critical events.
Colombia’s operators have agreed to participate in a working group led by MinTIC and the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) to undertake a number of measures including:
- Locating users contacting emergency phone line 123 through geolocation systems;
- Activate early SMS alerts to inform and warn the public about natural disasters before they occur; and
- Prioritise voice traffic over mobile networks for users of UNGRD.
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Translation
Spanish
Notes to Editors
1 Source: GSMA Intelligence. Figures include M2M connections.
2 The Colombian Government’s Vive Digital Plan aims to boost the country’s technological progress through wide dissemination of the Internet and the development of its national digital ecosystem. Find out more at http://www.mintic.gov.co/portal/vivedigital/612/w3-propertyvalue-6106.html
3Source: United Nations University. Find out more at eWaste in Latin America 2014: www.gsma.com/about-us/regions/latin-america/gsma_resources/ewaste-latin-america-2014-2/
4eWaste in Colombia 2015: www.gsma.com/about-us/regions/latin-america/gsma_resources/ewaste-colombia-2015-2/
5 Find out more at www.gsma.com/about-us/regions/latin-america/es/robo-terminales-imei/
About the GSMA
The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with more than 250 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and Internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as Mobile World Congress, Mobile World Congress Shanghai and the Mobile 360 Series conferences.
For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com. Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA.
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