Study to Update the Concept of Broadband According to Ecuador’s Regulatory Framework and Its Impact on the Economic, Social, and Productive Spheres

Abstract

ICTs are key to the development of countries to the extent that they support all kinds of activities and needs, from entertainment to production and labor, through a number of applications in all sectors of the economy and society. Today, it is observed that the use of digital applications is becoming more relevant to address problems of all kinds, particularly those of social order, in the areas of education, health, and government management, among others. Under this approach, the implementation of high-speed Internet access networks has positive benefits for consumers, companies, academic institutions, and society in general, to the extent that it represents a service increasingly involved in the daily lives of people, impacting their ability to work, interact with friends and family, receive high-quality entertainment, interact with their government, and manage their family’s health and domestic activities. The above contextualizes the need to update the current regulations on aspects of quality and minimum speed for Internet access in Ecuador since, by resolution TEL-431-13-CONATEL-2014 of May 30, 2014, the concept of broadband is not updated. It is necessary to address the technological and market advances, as determined by a substantial increase in users who require higher Internet speeds that allow them to use new applications that meet their need.