Punta Cana, Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic officially opened the Regulatel–ASIET–COMTELCA 2025 Summit this Thursday in Punta Cana, a high-level regional meeting that brings together regulators, technology companies and international organizations to address the most urgent challenges of digital transformation and cybersecurity in Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe.
Organized by the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel), the summit runs through Friday at the Barceló Hotel in Punta Cana. The event serves as a strategic platform to discuss how to build a more inclusive, competitive and sustainable digital ecosystem for the region.
During his remarks, Guido Gómez Mazara, president of Indotel’s Board of Directors and vice president of Regulatel, emphasized that the region is at a decisive turning point to push forward public policies that guarantee universal, meaningful and affordable connectivity.
He acknowledged that, despite significant progress in the deployment of 4G and 5G networks, there are still important usage gaps linked to affordability and a lack of digital skills. For that reason, he called for stronger, evidence-based public policies and for strategic partnerships that can speed up digital inclusion.
Regarding the Dominican Republic, Gómez Mazara stressed that connectivity is understood as a key tool for inclusion and social mobility. He highlighted that the country already reaches around 95% of its population with 4G and 5G coverage. However, he warned that coverage alone is not enough: the real challenge is closing the usage gap that still prevents many people from fully accessing and benefiting from digital services.
The summit’s agenda focused on crucial issues such as territorial approaches to regulatory improvement, smart regulation for 5G, the resilience of critical infrastructure, and the type of regional cooperation required to ensure a more equitable and innovative digital future.
For her part, Claudia Ximena Bustamante, executive director of the Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) and president of Regulatel, underscored the urgency of deepening regional cooperation at a time when digital transformation is advancing at great speed. This rapid shift, she said, demands modern, flexible and evidence-based regulatory frameworks.
Bustamante noted that countries face common challenges that cannot be solved in isolation. She called for joint strategies, a shared vision and effective coordination to bridge digital divides and ensure that the benefits of technological innovation reach all citizens, regardless of their location or socioeconomic status.
During the event, Indotel’s executive director, Julissa Cruz, presented the action plan for the regional roadmap. She was joined by representatives from Panama, Spain, Costa Rica and Brazil, as well as delegates from international organizations such as CITEL/OAS, GSMA and BEREC. All of them agreed on the importance of promoting updated regulatory frameworks that reinforce digital inclusion and international cooperation.
The working sessions included exchanges among regulators, telecom operators, development banks and multilateral organizations. The goal was to reach a regional consensus on how to respond to the technological, economic and social challenges that will shape the next decade.
The meeting, which began on December 9, concludes today with the 28th Regulatel Plenary Assembly. During this final session, the presidency of the forum for 2026 will officially pass from Colombia to the Dominican Republic. This handover is seen as recognition of the Dominican Republic’s leadership in telecommunications and digital transformation, as well as its firm commitment to regional cooperation and to fostering an inclusive, secure and sustainable digital environment.
About Regulatel
Regulatel is a regional body that brings together telecommunications regulators from Latin America, the Caribbean and the Iberian Peninsula. Its mission is to coordinate, articulate and strengthen cooperation among regulatory authorities to promote balanced development of the digital and telecommunications sector across member countries.
