Connectivity and productivity trends in Latin America

Industry experts at the Latin American Telecommunications Alliance (ALT+) event discussed how connectivity serves as a critical enabler for regional productivity and digital sovereignty. While connectivity is essential, experts noted that Latin America faces a productivity gap, with regional growth averaging 2.3% annually compared to a 3% global average.

In the mining sector, specifically in Peru, 5G technology is being utilized for autonomous operations, while blockchain is employed to certify green minerals. The evolution of cellular IoT is also noted through the migration toward LTE Cat-1 bis and 5G RedCap technologies.

Strategic concerns were raised regarding the region's critical dependency on external infrastructure. Proposals include using public procurement as a lever for digital sovereignty and establishing common institutional frameworks to ensure coherent regulation across the region.