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Country Overview OTHER LINKS
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► Info Infrastructure ■ Telecom Penetration ■ Internet Availability ■ Internet Affordability ■ Hardware/Software ■ Network Speed & Quality ■ Service & Support ■ Additional Stats ◄ Venezuela's Network Access -Information Infrastructure Venezuela's Information Infrastructure is in Stage 3. The information infrastructure is a curious entity because of several elements. Many of the elements that effect the development and growth are internal and external in nature. One of the primary modifiers that affects the information infrastructure is political in nature. Over the next four years, there is an anticipated expansion of certain areas of the infrastructure, to include broadband availability and mobile access, and Internet protocol TV (IPTV). Even though there are several areas of strong development areas such as radical internal policy changes have the overall outlook for the telecom industries in Venezuela rather mixed, or even declining. There are several types of service available, depending on geographic location. If you are in larger metropolitan areas, services such as broadband and Internet cafes are available. If you are in areas that are not covered by wired connections or cafes, there are Internet, Internet phone service, broadband using ADSL and 1x EV-DO in areas where the wired network does not reach the subscriber. As shown in Table 1, the amount of lines per 100 users is 25 subscribers. High enough to establish Venezuela at a stage 3 for infrastructure.
back to top Internet Availability Venezuela's Internet Availability is in Stage 3. There are several Internet providers that cover the region with a variety of services.
This area as well is an area of turmoil for the country. Because of policy that is being dictated involving what information would be conveyed, and by whom, many feel that the idea of "net neutrality" is slowly fading from Venezuela. To emphasize national control, as of May 2009, the administration announced the nationalization of the country’s largest telecommunications company CANTV. Additionally, the restrictive general media policies are fueling concerns that the Chávez administration could institute Internet filtering in the near future. As stated by Chávez: "Technology will be assumed as a form of communication of the People’s Power, to capacitate and articulate communities." As for the Internet penetration in Venezuela, it’s considerably lower than average for Latin America. Thus, according to the worldstats.com data related to the second quarter of 2008 Venezuela accounted 5,900,000 Internet subscribers occupying the sixth position. The government has also developed a program to bring the technology to the people, called Infocenters. Infocenters are a project of the Ministry of Science and Technology, and are government-sponsored and funded computer centers built in communities throughout the nation that provide free Internet and technological access and services to all Venezuelans. Twenty-seven mobile Infocenters were also launched this week, which will travel across the nation to remote areas in the Amazon, Andean and rural regions, guaranteeing free Internet services and computer training to citizens with little or no access to technology. Because of the level of the number of providers and the amount of public access to services, Venezuela is Stage 3 in availability. Internet AffordabilityVenezuela's Internet Affordability is in Stage 3. Venezuela has come a long way in making access to the Internet available to all of its citizens. One policy of the current administration is that it believes that it is a "human right" to have telecommunications access regardless of income. With this added pressure from the government, the telecom industry needs to be more competitive, in terms of cost and services provided. For example, a two year registration agreement in Venezuela costs approximately $145. That can be compared to the lowest pricing of $109 in Mexico and the highest in Brazil - $450. Due to the level of developing competition and the government push to provide services, but still a difference in the level of financial resources, Venezuela is at Stage 3. Hardware and SoftwareVenezuela's computer hardware and software is in Stage 2. The overall demand for hardware and software in Venezuela will be dictated by several factors. One of the major factors will be the availability of funds because of the current condition of the economy. Another factor that may hamper the environment for hardware and software is the political environment that is developing in Venezuela. As policies of non-neutrality develop, more and more companies will not want to deal with this country. Because of the disparity of the financial classes in Venezuela, the country is at Stage 2 in terms of hardware and software because the majority of people cannot afford to buy the necessary equipment for personal use or consumption. Network Speed and QualityVenezuela's Network Speed and Quality is in Stage 3. Network speed and quality varies greatly depending on where you are located. If you are in a metropolis, there will be adequate coverage and speed, but as you roam out to the remote locations where services are provided only by remote truck, performance will be lacking. Additionally, the addition of mobile communications and mobile network usage has increased the standing of the networks. Because of the higher success rate of telephone calls, and the amount of users that have access to dial-up connections, Venezuela is Stage 3 for network speed and quality. Service and SupportVenezuela's technology Service and Support is in Stage 3. The elements of service and support in Venezuela are as varied as the regions of the country. While in metropolitan areas it may take hours or days to have a service call made and completed. Additionally, there is a growing software development environment developing in Venezuela. In 2004, it is estimated that there was approximately 476 domestic software companies operating in country with an estimated value of $131 million. Because of the level of support and the developing environment for software development, Venezuela is rated at a Stage 3. Additional StatisticsTable 2: Income and Demographics
back to top Table 3: Telecom Costs
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