Why could digitally connecting the entire Dominican Republic take up to 20 years?
A study by INTEC highlights the magnitude of digital inequality in the country: while the National District leads in connectivity, border provinces like Independencia experience a "blackout" of opportunities.
SANTO DOMINGO – In the age of artificial intelligence and remote work, internet access is not a luxury, it is an enabling right for health, education, and employment. A recent study entitled Inequality in access to fixed Internet: a territorial analysis for the Dominican RepublicThe study reveals that connectivity in the country is not only scarce in absolute terms, but also fragmented. According to the analysis, in 87.5% of the national territory, only about 5 to 6 out of every 10 households have a fixed internet connection.
The research conducted by Professor Wilson Ramírez of the Engineering Department Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) puts figures to this reality.
If the current growth rate is maintained, most Dominican provinces would take between 11 and 20 years to achieve full connectivity (one service per household).
The map of inequality
The study identifies a gap between "connectivity hubs" and lagging areas. The National District stands out as the undisputed leader with a penetration rate of 26%, followed by La Altagracia with 15%. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Independencia province reflects the most severe aspect of the digital divide with a mere 1.60% connectivity. This means that, in this border province, for every 100 people, fewer than two have access to an internet connection at home.
This difference of 24.66 percentage points between the most connected and the least favored area shows that where a Dominican is born drastically determines their access to 21st-century tools.
The "Ana-Mari Index"
One of Professor Ramírez's most notable contributions is the creation of the Ana-Mari Index. Unlike traditional metrics that only measure who has internet access and who doesn't, this new index identifies "fragile areas with potential."
"Not all areas with low connectivity are the same," suggests the study's methodological framework. The Ana-Mari Index allows for the identification of territories that, although currently lagging behind, have a growing population demanding connectivity. The study highlights that these areas require a 21.8% increase in per capita access to reach minimum levels of equity.
"Universal connectivity is not immediate," the document warns. Spatial analysis also confirms that provinces with low penetration tend to cluster geographically, creating excluded groups that require phased national plans and targeted subsidies.
What does it take to pick up the pace?
Professor Ramírez's study not only diagnoses the problem but also proposes a roadmap tailored to the specific circumstances of each region. For established hubs like the National District and La Romana, the focus should be on optimizing existing infrastructure and accelerating the deployment of cutting-edge technologies such as 5G. In these areas, where the market is more mature, the priority is network quality and speed.
On the other hand, in emerging territories like Elías Piña and Pedernales, the strategy requires reducing regulatory barriers to encourage the entry of new operators who can compete for an existing but unmet demand. Finally, for the most critically underserved areas, the research suggests that the only viable solution is direct government intervention. This involves creating aggressive tax incentives and demand-side subsidies to make it possible to extend service to areas where the market alone cannot reach.
The study concludes that if the Dominican Republic aspires to true social inclusion, investment in technological infrastructure, as well as public policies focused on connectivity, particularly in digitally underserved areas like the country's border region, must be as high a priority as road construction. Without decisive action, the digital future of millions of Dominicans will continue to progress at a snail's pace.