Ecuador Digital Economy

Ministry of Telecommunications (MINTEL) published Digital Transformation Agenda 2025-2030 April 8, 2025: reduce digital divide, strengthen public sector digitalization, foster digital culture. Seven pillars: digital infrastructure, culture/digital inclusion, digital economy, emerging technologies for sustainable development, digital government, interoperability/data processing, digital security/trust. CNT (National Corporation of Telecommunications) signed 5-year Alliance Framework Agreement with Google Cloud January 2025 ($300M+ commitment, Google’s first AFA in South America). Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE dominate digital/telecommunications infrastructure. Mobile broadband reaches 20% rural/isolated areas, 70%+ large population centers. MINTEL seeks connectivity infrastructure investment especially rural areas. MINTEL Agreement 141 (2011): customers must contract cloud services outside Ecuador through CNT as local partner. AI draft legislation under debate in National Assembly. New international players: Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services, Starlink, Oracle. Mistral submarine cable partnership with America Movil and Telxius. Galapagos subsea cable and Carnival Submarine Network planned