This Monday, November 30, President Laurentino Cortizo signed with the telephone companies the extension of the telecommunication agreement through which the use of the frequency band segments is extended from January 1 to June 30, 2021, in order to to continue strengthening and supporting the different special educational plans and programs set forth by the National Government.
Today, by thanking the companies that signed the agreement on behalf of the country, I want to tell them that this agreement will allow many Panamanian children and young people to continue their learning, and men and women, to continue their efforts with their productive activities, said Cortizo.
Cortizo stressed that actions like this distinguish good companies that understand that the country is experiencing a moment of crisis that affects us all and, therefore, demands the collaboration and sacrifice of all.
The National Government, the National Assembly and the four telephone operators of the country, established the agreement that facilitates the students of the official schools the connectivity to study through the use of mobile internet.
A couple of months ago, the announcement of the signing of an agreement between the telecommunications companies was made, through which special plans were made available to their customers, affected by the health crisis, that assured them access to basic connectivity until 31 December this year.
I expressed that there was no greater reward for a president than to see his country united, collaborating shoulder to shoulder and with a spirit of solidarity and facing adversity with discipline, Cortizo said, recalling such an alliance.
On November 12, the Cabinet Council, through Resolution No. 94-20, approved the use of the segments of frequency bands, previously authorized by the National Authority of Public Services (ASEP), to companies mobile, free of charge, from January 1 to June 30, 2021.
Through the aforementioned Cabinet resolution, the allocation of greater radio spectrum to operators is maintained until the middle of next year to satisfy the high demand for tele-education and telework, caused by the
COVID-19 pandemic that the National Government approved in advance. until December 31, 2020.
After this signature, the students' guardians will be able to continue requesting the free benefits of connection and participation in virtual classes of the Solidarity Educational Plan through the Ester and Office 365 / Teams platforms, with + Móvil, Tigo, Digicel or Claro, through the pages web www.meduca.gob.pa or www.panamadigital.gob.pa , which run until June 30, 2021.
The extension of the agreement was signed by Maruja Gorday de Villalobos, Minister of Education; Rodrigo Diehl, General Manager of Tigo - Cable Onda, SA; Abdiel Centeno, Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs of Cable & Wireless Panamá, SA; Antonio García A., General Manager of Claro Panamá, SA; Annelise Valdés, Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs of Digicel (Panama), SA; Luis Oliva, General Administrator of the Government Innovation Authority (AIG); Armando Fuentes Rodríguez, General Administrator of the National Public Services Authority (ASEP) and, as an honorary witness, Marcos Castillero, President of the National Assembly, participated.