President Martinelli has led the push for increased connectivity in Panama.
Panama has replaced Uruguay as Latin America’s technology leader, according to the sixth annual Latin Technology Index from Latin Business Chronicle.
The Latin Technology Index provides a unique comparison of the technology level of 19 Latin American countries by looking at the penetration rates of Internet, broadband Internet, personal computers (PCs), wireless subscribers and fixed telephone lines. It uses 2009 technology data from the International Telecommunications Union, Computer Industry Almanac and the Santiago Chamber of Commerce and population data from the International Monetary Fund and the Population Reference Bureau.
Meanwhile, Chile replaced Uruguay as the Internet penetration leader in Latin America, but Uruguay replaced Chile as the region’s broadband leader.
PANAMA
Thanks to continued strong growth in wireless penetration as well as a recent spurt in Internet and broadband penetration and a doubling in PC users, Panama managed to lead the index for the first time.
While it continued to lead the wireless category, Panama now also – for the first time – is among the top five Latin American leaders in Internet and broadband penetration.
Panama last year reached an amazing 184.7 percent penetration rate for wireless subscribers. The Latin American average is 101 percent.