EPN announces Internet progress

BY MAURILIO BY SOTO

The News.com.mx

MEXICO CITY – Acknowledging that there is a low level of accessibility to technology in Mexico, President Enrique Peña Nieto said on Tuesday that the approved telecommunications reform will resolve this situation.

“This reform guarantees the right to the access of information through radio and television broadcasting, as well as the Internet,” Peña Nieto said. “In addition, the reform guarantees the right of everyone to be active participants in media and social networks.”

Another central objective of the reform is to expand Internet access to every corner of the country. Increasing the number of public sites with internet access from 38,000 to more than 250,000.

“The creation of the reform will be the initial steps towards extending access to online information,” he said. “Additionally, it is an important precedent in creating an open information paradigm in Mexico.”

According to the National Statistics Institute (INEGI), only 46 million people aged six or older are Internet users and only 31 percent of Mexican households have an Internet connection, representing a shortcoming in Mexicans’ right to the access of information and knowledge. The president said that the provisions in the reform also demonstrate the government’s commitment to the development of science and technology.

“The goal is to spread more knowledge in order for our country to be able to reach its full potential,” Peña Nieto said, adding “We are aware that the digital age in which we currently live calls for expanding access to technology and high-quality information.”