Universal Service in Argentina: The Challenge of Communicating Argentina

Abstract

The Universal Service (US) in Argentina could and should be defined as the permanent, state-run program aimed at developing objective and consistent policies conducive to a genuine communication infrastructure deployment with a view to providing the public at large, and especially the most neglected sectors of the Argentine people as well as low-income people from cities far away from developed urban and rural centers, with any kind of quality and affordable communication services, whether subsidized or at a “social” fee. Every legislation has laid out the US for its jurisdiction, which is undoubtedly one of the major topics each regulator is to consider when it comes to drawing up its communication policy. Many definitions can be found on the Internet , including that of wikitel’s stating that it is the “service package all population is assured of, with minimum quality and at affordable prices” (free translation from Spanish version). This portal goes on saying that generally “price and quality are required to be geographically uniform.” It is common to see papers comparing and/or associating this term with ‘Universal Access.’