venezuela
Concerned about how digital technologies bring new challenges to fighting censorship, APC member EsLaRed has been defending access to information and freedom of expression in restrictive environments, with a recent study focusing on communication blockades in Venezuela.
Since mid-2016, the government has implemented a series of economic, social and political measures under the state of emergency enacted by Presidential Decree No. 2323, of 13 May 2016. In particular, the right of access to the internet, the right to freedom of expression and the right to privacy in Venezuela may be violated because of this Decree.
“We have been continuously involved in training a group of 4,000 technical experts, here in Latin America,” says Sandra Benítez proudly. She is part of Escuela Latinoamericana de Redes (EsLaRed), an APC member in Venezuela. Interviewed by APCNews, Benítez talks about the major achievements of APC in the past 25 years, and the ways in which the network has promoted collaboration am...
In Venezuela, community uses of the spectrum are privileged at the cost of generating uncertainty in the private sector. This discourages major investments in telecommunications and a wider discussion of the subject, according to Sandra Benítez and Ermanno Pietrosemoli of EsLaRed in this interview with APC.
Venezuela’s socialist development model has brought about significant changes favouring the democratisation of spectrum say Sandra Benítez and Ermanno Pietrosemoli in a new study for APC. But doubts remain about who will loosen the private sector’s grip on the sector. Civil society plays a key watchdog role to ensure that the steps taken benefit the state, rather than the governme...
The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is concerned about potential Venezuelan legislative reform that would delegate legislative powers to the President without clearly setting any limits. This will affect the power balance that is necessary in a functioning democracy as a guarantee for the validity, respect and exercise of human rights, including freedom of expression. APC al...
Gráfico del crecimiento de internetIn Latin America there is still a lack of universal access to telecommunications infrastructure in general and broadband in particuar. Some countries have chosen to develop national and local internet traffic through national access points (NAP) to keep prices down by avoiding international networks. However Venezuela has not yet taken the decision to instal...
This exploratory study, carried out by Funredes and EsLaRed, analyses the use of the Universal Service Fund (FSU-Fondo de Servicio Universal) in Venezuela. Since 2001 the FSU has financed access points in different areas as well as infrastructure and access networks for communities and government agencies. The study indicates that only 30% of the funding has been allocated and that, of this su...
Venezuela’s advocacy action was carried out by EsLaRed and Funredes, the country’s AndinaTIC members, and focused on analysing a proposed reform of the telecommunications, information technology and postal service law. Among other things the law would grant greater control to the government which could pave the way for content regulation. The reform was proposed by organisations closely li...
Ysabel Briceño observes that the long distance that most internet traffic must travel outside the region before returning back to the region is a problem that affects both the quality and cost of communications services in the countries of South America, including Venezuela. As a result of this, she notes, the creation of NAPs has emerged as a solution to avoid routing local internet traffic ...
