Q: How would you describe Mexico’s key areas of opportunity when it comes to connectivity?

OA: There is no real connectivity policy. Attempts have been made but they have fallen short of meeting the connectivity needs of the population. The Mexico Conectado program was a first attempt but this is still lacking. The 2014 Telecommunications Reform is also falling short of expectations. It is not strong enough to generate secondary laws that promote connectivity among companies or generate new investment channels for national capital. The Mexican government needs to promote investment in technology development instead of technology importation. In terms of the shared network, the Telecommunications Reform approved in May 2017 does not really change the current connectivity situation because it cannot be fully applied. All articles that are focused on the shared network will not be fully implemented until 2020.

PT: When both sectors start paying more attention to connectivity quality instead of connectivity price and the government understands the importance of investing, the paradigm will change and so will the connectivity situation in Mexico.

Q: What have been the main results of the Telecommunication Reform?

PT: Governmental sources show that thanks to the telecommunication reform, access to internet increased 63 percent to 65 million Mexicans in 2017 from the 40 million in 2013. Fixed internet subscriptions have also grown 23 percent, which is three times more than mobile internet.

OA: Despite the efforts of the private sector and the government to improve connectivity, Mexico’s public policy does not clearly guide the constitutional mandate in terms of broadband access. One example of the latter is the fact that our country occupies last place in OECD when it comes to fixed broadband penetration with 12.8 subscribers per 100 inhabitants.

Q: What knock-on effects does Mexico’s connectivity lag have on other areas?

OA: Mexico’s connectivity gap harms the country’s competitiveness. 50 million Mexicans lack access to internet and there are no transversal policies that combat the problem integrally. The private and public sectors do not usually attribute enough importance to technology and connectivity, even if they require critical connections to operate.

PT: The public sector in Mexico does not invest as it should in connectivity. Instead, it segments its expenditure to reach the masses without making substantive changes in their lifestyle or fully achieving adoption of connectivity technology. When the government and major companies start giving connectivity technology its due importance, the country will start growing economically at a much faster pace.

Q: Who are Smartnett Carrier’s clients in the public and private sector?

PT: Smartnett has provided connectivity solutions to clients in the private sector that have high-tech requirements such as DHL, Aeroméxico and Condelmex, as well as internet services for events like the Porsche World Roadshow, Silicon Valley Day and INNOVATION Fest 2015.

In the public sector, our sales proportion is smaller because these clients look for strong security in their connections through access restrictions and content filters. In this sector, Smartnett provides Wi-Fi for both AICM terminals and has worked on an event for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE).