digital mirrors

Telecommunications speeches are loaded with an enormous litany that identifies problems, but reduces solutions to the point of simplism. The repetition has reached such a level that the events become confused by the similarity of the speeches. Some veterans of the sector even point out in a boring tone that the topics discussed are identical to those of past decades. The difference is that while in the past the discussions revolved around analog technologies, in the present the acronyms refer to a digital world.

In any case, it is a bit naïve to think that at an industry event we will be discovering the magic formula that will allow us to solve all of society’s problems through digitization. Talking about the possibilities of 5G, complaining about the price of radio spectrum or identifying bureaucracy as a problem is not difficult. The complex thing is to identify all the edges of the digital ecosystem that have to be solved so that the service can be offered. Overcome obstacles that are often ignored at events, sometimes due to ignorance, others because they deal with issues that are not politically correct.

The hidden truth is that experts in the sector already know what the existing problems are and are also aware of the challenges to be faced in trying to improve the connectivity offer in the country. These experts do not need to hear that creative solutions are needed or that Internet access should be in the hands of all citizens as a human right. The concerns are almost always more mundane and revolve around what resources are available. The scarcity of resources forces us to create a list of priorities that surely leaves almost no one happy.

Part of the problem is that those who have the power to make important changes do not know closely the dynamics of the telecommunications sector or, in the worst case, do not understand its importance. Contrasting with this situation, we find that those public sector experts who can outline a strategy to gradually solve the most serious problems in the industry are precisely those who have the least power. Very difficult to establish a coherent digital development policy when working in survival mode.

Now, to think that all the traumas and shortcomings in the world of telecommunications falls on the public sector is to err on the side of innocence. Just as not all government officials are the same, the same happens with representatives of the private sector. It is for this reason that, although the actions of professionals committed to the development of the country are celebrated or the positive impact that corporate responsibility strategies have on the market is recognized, it is also necessary to speak of unscrupulous individuals who, in order to obtain their objective, use his arsenal all kinds of tricks.

Perhaps this is the reason why when a new technology is mentioned, the promises of performance are so exaggerated that even in laboratory tests the mentioned parameters have not been met. If we mix the existence of these individuals with the presence of people with decision-making power who have no idea of ​​technology, the result obtained has become the premature acquisition of equipment for which there is no demand in the short and medium term.

How to solve this situation? How to communicate all the weight that political games have in the approval of sector regulations at industry events? How to isolate from personalism the decisions that are taken from the highest levels of government to reward or punish specific entities?

Yes, I agree that the world of technology is full of simplicity. No matter the forum or platform in which it is discussed, it is almost impossible to avoid allegations about how numerous problems are solved by increasing investment in the right places. There is no complexity, everything is solved in a linear way. If we do A to meet the need of B, we will have C as a solution. Then, as in fairy tales, everyone can live happily for the rest of their days.

However, the origin of fairy tales is not harmonious and just as the stories of the Brothers Grimm show a ruthless world, reality is responsible for blurring the ideas that reduce the problems of a country to a specific entity depending on the circumstances. likes and dislikes of each individual. Some will focus their criticism on the private sector, on those companies that do not want to invest to expand their services.

Others will blame the legal framework or the lack of adequate public policy for the telecommunications sector. Regardless of the school of thought you may have, to think that the ills of the telecommunications sector are due to the actions or inactions of a single actor is guilty of innocence. Just as the telecommunications ecosystem is complex, so are its shortcomings. No technology by itself will be able to solve all the needs, no action plan will be able to correct the flaws in a single day. The work is hard and long-term, since any attempt to promote connectivity must have a launch date, but not an expiration date.

Let us remember that the Internet is a human right and has no expiration date. But let’s not forget that in order to achieve this object of connectivity for all citizens, we have to start talking about issues that go beyond the telecommunications industry, we have to talk about how to reduce hunger and poverty. Otherwise, when we go to telecommunications events we will face digital mirrors in the form of PPT presentations.