They built new television policy Colombia – ElEspectador.com

The Ministry of Information Technology and Communications (Mintic) made the call at these workshops, while the heroic Latin American Fair of Telecommunications and Converging Technologies develops Andina link.

There, among the main topics of discussion-and industry- concern has been the future of regulation for the sector to meet the challenges for competitiveness posed by the emergence of services Internet content (known as OTT), as Netflix. The heart of the matter is the tax asymmetry and investment.

While television and telecommunications services make investments in infrastructure and contribute to the Fund of Information Technology and Communications (Fontic), many OTT even have offices in Colombia and pay no taxes. According to data presented by Angela Guerra, director of regulation Telefónica, while between 2011 and 2014 television had an annual growth rate of users of 8%, the Netflix was 128%.

Precisely in part of the meeting in Cartagena, the Communications Regulation Commission gave details of a study soon revealed in full, according to which in Colombia only 2.5% of people consume television content over the Internet, while 25.2% work in conjunction with traditional services. Netflix, for example, has more than half a million subscribers in Colombia.

According to Guerra, “the OTT not established in Colombia must pay VAT and meet the standards of data protection”. Natalia Iregui, legal and institutional relations Directv vice president, said in a similar vein, adding base to discuss the formation of a converged regulator, which has been recommended by the OECD. “This is a single regulator to look at all the services: internet and television. The trend is to deregulate traditional operators and burdens we have which we operate, “said

In this regard, Angela Mora, director of the National Television Authority said.” I’m not going to get into the institutional issue, I think that (the creation of a converged regulator) will not solve the problems of the TV, such as the financing of public television, the issue of licenses, and content. The problem goes beyond who the regulator “. Tax on services as Netlfix, Mora said he would considerations of network neutrality. “Legally we should tell to put an office in Colombia, to create a society, etc. But it is a service that comes online. Tell that to enter the country will be taxed, do not have very clear. But that is up to the Congress “.

The National Planning Department (DNP) deliver to Mintic said a study with recommendations for action against the revolution of the digital economy. According to Ivan Mantilla, deputy director of telecommunications DNP will need to take into account the failure of the traditional model that has led to that in Colombia piracy in these services represent 15% and underreporting of users reaches 11%, while the Latin American average is 13 and 10%, respectively.