MARKET leader

Puntonet has been working to expand Ecuador’s fiber-optic network to rural areas, reduce digital illiteracy among SMEs, and improve connectivity overall.

How has Puntonet been developing in the last few years, considering the rapid acceleration of companies’ digitalization processes?

Puntonet has had a fairly aggressive evolution over the last few years. Some years ago, we began a digital transformation project focused on the understanding of the company’s business model and its essence. From there, we centered our development on technological systems and information in order to build a more client-based solution. Puntonet has become a technological renovation bridge, regarding the connection between connectivity and telecommunications with society. Puntonet continues to work on its strategic plan, and we have modeled and shaped it according to the context and market conditions. By having a technological platform, as well as infrastructures for fiber optics, cloud computing, and security, we can make quicker decisions and develop our actions based on our customers’ needs. This is extremely important.

How has Puntonet adapted to the different economic and strategic sectors of the country?

Puntonet has two business lines: the residential segment and corporate. The pandemic resulted in an enormous increase of residential internet lines in the last two years, as everyone turned to remote working; however, the corporate sector had to start adding new technologies, which Ecuador was lagging in. When you start working on data governance, you first need to understand the source of your data and how you will use it, in order to establish a proper flow of data that ensures its quality. We would like for this digital ecosystem not to rely solely on hardware and connectivity, but rather be the core of a more complex system of data that derives in sustained insights about our clients. We are currently seeing an alignment and synergies between the public and private sectors, which was impossible some time ago. The idea is to work together to reduce the digital gap. Starting in April, Puntonet is expanding the fiber-optic network to rural areas, since over 50% of the landline connections are concentrated on urban areas. The Ministry of Production also provides income tax reductions for those who invest in this area, which are beneficial for the company.

What is your view on the current economic momentum of optimism experienced by Ecuador?

Having a government that considers the private sector an ally for the development of its projects is positive, as is the fact that it takes into consideration the opinions of the private sector. SMEs have an important involvement in Ecuador, and we should help them solve their digital illiteracy. The private sector is extremely optimistic on these projections, and our governing body represented by the Ministry of Telecommunications supports such plans such as with the 1% universal tax, which will enhance the growth of connectivity. The governing body is looking to consolidate efforts, with the aim of reducing the digital gap. We can enhance social growth through technology. We should also focus on checking the prices we pay. Right now, the telecommunications sector has probably the highest tax burden of the region; however, we expect this to fall in the coming years through partnerships between the private and public sectors.

What are the priorities for Puntonet for 20222023?

We will focus on territorial expansion. We are currently present in 20 cities, and we will open operations in another 10. We are carrying out research with advanced analytics to understand the current situation and determine how we can provide customers with products that truly meet their needs. We are building a personal connection between internet and customers. As an example, we now have a similar tool to the one Uber uses, which allows a customer to identify the technician coming to their house. We are giving them the peace of mind that they are truly opening their doors to an employee of the company that is providing technical support, which demonstrates our compromise with the service and experience we provide.