News
Country aims to boost 4G device numbers by selling seven smartphone models for set price, payable in instalments.
Argentina’s president Mauricio Macri this week unveiled a US$5 billion project to boost the availability and usage of mobile Internet in the country, with a specific focus on making 4G handsets more accessible.
The Mobile Internet Access Programme will see telecoms and cable operators, ICT companies and other industry groups invest that sum in improving infrastructure and promoting access to modern equipment, "to allow millions of people to bridge the digital divide," according to a statement published by the government on Monday.
The project will be "a real revolution, because it will enable us to catch up with the other big countries in the region," the president said, at a presentation in Buenos Aires.
"We are pleased to confirm that as soon as possible in the coming years Argentina will benefit from investment of 80,000 million pesos in new technologies, more antenna deployments, more fibre [and] better equipment," Macri said, according to the government statement.
ARS80 billion translates to around $5.3 billion or €4.8 billion.
A key tenet of the initiative is to boost 4G smartphone usage. As it stands, there are 7.7 million 4G smartphones in the country, with 7 million people still using 3G devices and 8 million on 2G, the state claims.
As a result, for a limited time mobile users will be able to acquire certain 4G devices at a set price of ARS2,200 ($146/€133) and make payments over a 12-month period, without being charged any interest. The scheme will run until the end of October.
The government hopes it will help boost the number of 4G devices in circulation to 16 million next year.
Available models under the scheme are the Huawei Y3 II, LG K4 K120, Samsung J1 Ace, BGH Joy A20, Microsoft Lumia 640, Noblex N453, and Hyundai Ultra Dream.
The government also listed Brightstar Fueguina, Electronic System, IATEC, BGH, and Solnic as manufacturers that are taking part in the project.
