A view of Colombia. Photo: SES Networks

SES Networks and Colombian satellite internet provider INRED delivered 300 additional broadband hotspots across Colombia, SES revealed Thursday. This is expansion of the work done in 2019 when SES Networks helped INRED deploy 1,000 free community Wi-Fi zones across Colombia, connecting more than 700,000 people. INRED is one of Colombia’s first certified partners for delivering SES Networks’ Signature Solutions.

The additional sites are part of Colombia’s Sustainable Universal Access project from the Colombian Ministry of Telecommunications. All 1,300 Wi-Fi zones are providing broadband services over the SES-14 satellite, which provides coverage over Latin America, the Caribbean, and the North Atlantic. According to the release, nearly one million people are connected in total.

“INRED and SES have carried out the first phases of this universal access program in record time, which opens the door to exciting new opportunities for economic growth, work, and education in what have been historically disconnected communities across Colombia,” said Jhon Jairo Ureña, CEO of INRED. “By adding 300 more community Wi-Fi hotspots, more families and businesses are able to communicate, and sell their services and products. At the same time, it is gratifying to know that more children now have access to connectivity that makes remote learning during the pandemic possible.”

Additionally, the Colombian government selected INRED and SES Networks to carry out a social connectivity initiative to help the people of San Andrés and Providencia, which are two Caribbean island groups northwest of mainland Colombia. Satellite-enabled connectivity is now being delivered to 12 training schools and Colombian National Navy posts.