Universalizing access to digital technologies to address the consequences of COVID-19

This Special Report is the seventh in a series by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) on the evolution and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America and the Caribbean. It examines the key role of digital technologies in the pandemic prompted by the coronavirus and how gaps in access, affordability and network speed deepen the inequalities and vulnerabilities of the region’s population. It also analyzes the advances and limitations of digitalization and assesses how digital solutions reduce the impact of measures aimed at containing the virus, such as lockdowns and social distancing. Finally, the document proposes measures in the area of connectivity and the digital economy for an inclusive reactivation.