Connectivity as a transversal lever for development in Bogotá

Within the framework of the commemorations of the Externado de Colombia University’s 135th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of the Telecommunications Law Department, a series of academic events will be held for the sector’s authorities to present their projects and agendas.

It seeks to improve the country’s processes to be more competitive, with clear rules for all participating citizens and agents and mechanisms that generate trust.

Understanding that one of the main issues to be addressed by the Bogotá Council will be the analysis of the Land Use Plan (Plan de Ordenamiento de Territorial– POT) presented by the Bogotá Mayor’s Office, spaces will be offered for discussion and analysis of the elements that must be taken into account for its construction.

Connectivity is configured as a necessary and structural element for fulfilling the projects being incorporated into the POT. One year after the declaration of the economic, social, and ecological emergency and the isolation measures, significant problems derived from the absence or deficiency in connectivity throughout the Capital District have become evident, generating inequalities and the increase in the digital gap.

Evidence indicates three sectors, particularly requiring a high degree of connectivity, considering they allow the exercise of various rights, such as the right to health, file petitions before the administration, have a harmonious relationship with it, and the right to education. Hence, the education, health, and digital government sectors must have a specific analysis for the new plan without neglecting the digital divide strategies.

Therefore, on April 21, 22, and 23, 2021, a series of talks will be held to analyze the aspects that must be taken into account to ensure connectivity in these three sectors.

Participating in the event are experts in the field whose reflections will serve as input for constructing a POT responding to the needs of the city according to the transformations required in a digital environment.

FIRST DAY, APRIL 21, 2021 – Central topic: EDUCATION

The panel’s objective is to review the existing relationships between connectivity and education in Bogotá and its incorporation as a strategic crux for the 2020-2024 Land Use Plan. The review on the basis that the new reality created the need to migrate from a face-to-face environment and focus on physical infrastructure to guarantee the right to education to a virtual environment in which connectivity and students’ appropriation of technologies become the essential lever to ensure access to education.

SECOND DAY, APRIL 22, 2021 – Central TOPIC: HEALTH

This panel aims to review the existing relationships between connectivity and health in Bogotá and its incorporation as a strategic crux for the 2020-2024 Land Use Plan. A review based on the impact the pandemic has had on the health system, where the need for timely and agile information for decision-making was evidenced, regarding the measures to contain the effects derived from the crisis on the population, treatments, and care of medical personnel.

Connectivity becomes a determining factor in solving these problems, which implies a modernization of existing networks and the construction of new ones, which may be affected by the barriers arising from infrastructure deployment.

THIRD DAY, APRIL 23, 2021 – CENTRAL topic:  DIGITAL GOVERNMENT

This panel aims to review the existing relationships between connectivity and the Bogotá digital government and its incorporation as a strategic crux for the 2020-2024 Land Use Plan. It is deemed that a suitable city design must start from the participation of all agents in decision-making and the value that open data can have as a fundamental element for the development of smart city and territory solutions by private parties; therefore, constant improvement of these and their availability is required.