The senior official discussed the details of participating in the summit’s annual follow-up mechanism, which promotes inclusive access to information and communication technologies (ICTs), a goal to which he reaffirmed his country’s commitment.

We continue to make progress in various areas, including the development of telecommunications infrastructure, e-government and commerce, the creation of our own digital platforms and the preparation of human capital, which was one of the strengths of the Revolution, he explained.

According to the First Deputy Minister, under this strategy, Internet coverage reaches about 70 percent of the population with steps to roll out 4G technology, PL reports. He clarified that advances in digital transformation are accompanied by cybersecurity efforts to protect public and private data.

Friendly meeting with Dr. Kosmas, director of the Development Bureau @AND YOU, define new forms of cooperation; The America Accessible event took place in #Cubaand we reaffirm our support for the organization’s active role in innovation and cybersecurity pic.twitter.com/fkCPpZGPYc

— Wilfredo González Vidal (@Wilfre_GV) March 17, 2023

González insisted that priority be given in Cuba to a modern e-government tool with more than 260 activated platforms or portals, based on an approach that goes beyond the Internet presence of institutions to facilitate interaction with people and participation of citizens.

He emphasized that improving the quality of service, reducing procedures and engaging with the public are part of this vision, and digital transformation is aimed at improving people’s lives and promoting economic development.

The representative of the island at the WSIS forum cannot ignore the fact that Cuba is working in this area in a special context marked by the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States for more than six decades.

The siege of Washington represents a major obstacle to the development and use of ICTs, causing severe restrictions in the telecommunications sector, an impact that we can illustrate, for example, by the inability to access dozens of international platforms involved in the flow and exchange of information, he denounced.

He also recalled that the largest of the Antilles is facing systematic attacks and destabilizing actions from cyberspace, which is contrary to the spirit of the World Summit on the Information Society.

In a complex scenario, Gonzalez reiterated that his country remains on track, with political will and response that includes empowering and empowering the nation’s industry.

Wilfredo Gonzalez Vidal, First Deputy Minister of Communications of Cuba. PHOTO: PL

We are favored by the human capital created by the revolution in these years, and the vision of protecting identity, culture and sovereignty on the way to the computerization of society, he insisted.