CITEL of the OAS Promotes New Connectivity and Telemedicine Initiatives for Rural and Indigenous Communities in the Americas

Press Release

CITEL of the OAS Promotes New Connectivity and Telemedicine Initiatives for Rural and Indigenous Communities in the Americas

The Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) of the Organization of American States (OAS) presented this week three initiatives aimed at strengthening connectivity, digital inclusion, and access to essential services for rural and Indigenous communities in the region.

The initiatives, presented at the opening of the CITEL Assembly, taking place from today through Thursday in San José, Costa Rica, reflect concrete progress in priority areas such as digital access in native languages, community connectivity in remote territories, and telemedicine for Indigenous populations.

"Connectivity is not just infrastructure: it is a tool to expand rights, generate opportunities, and bring essential services closer to communities that have historically been left behind," said CITEL Executive Secretary Óscar León, who signed the three documents on behalf of OAS CITEL.

The initiatives are as follows:

Native-language application for communities in the Gran Chaco

This initiative is part of a collaboration linked to the Nanum Connected Women project, recently recognized with the EQUALS in Tech Award in the Access category.

As part of this effort, CITEL has developed the first application in native languages for communities in the Gran Chaco, in the Nivaclé language, with the goal of promoting digital inclusion and community development. The initial pilot involves 80 community leaders, with an estimated multiplier effect reaching 2,000 people and a projected impact of approximately 18,000 to 19,000 people in the region in the coming years.

Brazil: cooperation for community connectivity in the Amazon

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the OAS General Secretariat, through CITEL, and Brazil's National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL) to strengthen technical cooperation on community connectivity in remote areas of the Amazon. ANATEL's president, Carlos Baigorri, signed on behalf of the agency.

The agreement includes regulatory exchange, pilot projects, and the creation of a multidisciplinary working group, with potential applications in strategic social services such as telemedicine.

This initiative builds on ongoing efforts, including a pilot developed with the Internet Society (ISOC) and the Rede Conexão Povos da Floresta initiative, which currently benefits four isolated communities and has sparked interest in expansion.

Costa Rica: letter of intent for a telemedicine pilot for Indigenous populations

Finally, a letter of intent was signed to develop a telemedicine pilot focused on Indigenous populations in Costa Rica. Costa Rica's Minister of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications (MICITT), Paula Bogantes, signed on behalf of the country.

The initiative is framed within the existing Memorandum of Understanding between Costa Rica and CITEL and includes 24 Indigenous locations, with an estimated reach of approximately 2,000 people per location. The project also envisions future expansion to include basic diagnostic services within the national health system.

With these actions, OAS CITEL reaffirms its commitment to inclusive digital transformation, centered on people and aimed at reducing access gaps in the most vulnerable communities across the hemisphere.

Reference: E-031/26