Democracy Through Connectivity: How Satellite Telecommunication Can Bridge the Digital Divide in Latin America

Abstract

Space telecommunication offers many benefits. It can be used to access news sources and share real-time information from virtually anywhere on the planet. It can also empower citizens with open-source informal education tools. This article argues that space technologies can support democracy in Latin America by reducing digital inequalities. To do this, we briefly introduce the notion of democracy and its current state in Latin American, followed by an explanation on how the space sector can help reduce inequalities and foster democracy by, for instance, broadening access to telecommunication services in remote and rural areas. We then shed light on the democratisation of space technologies in Latin America; the evolution of the access to the space sector itself and the access to space telecommunication services. Finally, we present a set of recommendations for future actions at both regional and national levels, including increasing the coverage zones of telecommunication satellites, improving latency in the region, securing people’s access to electricity and the necessary local ground infrastructure, and encouraging both local private investment and regional cooperation.