Colombia’s national digital strategy 2023–2026
February 2024
Strategies and Action Plans
Author: The Presidency of the Republic of Colombia the Departmento Nacional de Planeación and the Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications (MinTIC)
The national digital strategy 2023–2026 is the Colombian government’s comprehensive policy instrument for guiding digital transformation across sectors. Anchored in the Plan Nacional de Desarrollo 2022–2026, the strategy aims to harness digital technologies and data as tools for addressing economic, social, and environmental challenges, while reducing regional inequalities in connectivity, digital skills, and institutional capacity.
Purpose and foundation
This strategy integrates existing sectoral policies, past digital initiatives, and new priorities to promote a coordinated national approach. It focuses on enabling conditions—such as connectivity, data infrastructure, security, and skills—and on the outcomes of digital adoption in public institutions, the economy, and society. It aligns with Colombia’s development vision of digital inclusion, productivity, and sustainability.
Strategic pillars
The strategy is organised around eight pillars, each with specific objectives and action lines:
- Digital connectivity
Aims to treat internet access as a right, emphasising rural and underserved areas. Initiatives include expanding last-mile networks, facilitating shared infrastructure models, and promoting spectrum allocation for social benefit, particularly for 5G. - Data access and use
Seeks to build a robust data infrastructure and improve data availability, quality, and interoperability. It supports open data policies and strategies to foster a data-driven culture in the public and private sectors. - Digital security and trust
Responds to rising cybersecurity threats by strengthening institutional coordination, enhancing national cybersecurity capacities, and promoting public awareness. It also calls for legislative reforms to ensure digital protections. - Digital skills and talent
Targets the development of basic to advanced digital skills, reducing regional disparities, and improving the country’s digital competitiveness. Education-focused actions include increasing access to digital devices and improving digital training in schools. - Emerging technologies and AI
Focuses on fostering the responsible development and use of AI and other advanced technologies (e.g., blockchain, IoT) to drive innovation and address public challenges. Policies also aim to mitigate associated ethical and regulatory risks. - Public sector digital transformation
Supports the adoption of digital tools in public services to improve efficiency, accessibility, and trust. This includes streamlining digital processes, enhancing online services, and modernising justice and regulatory systems. - Digital economy
Encourages digital entrepreneurship, e-commerce, and innovation in the private sector. Efforts include supporting SMEs, developing the tech industry, and updating labour market and social protection policies for the digital era. - Inclusive digital society
Places people at the center, with actions to reduce digital divides, protect rights online, and ensure access to digital health, education, and urban services. It also addresses disinformation, online safety, and environmental impacts.
Implementation and monitoring
The strategy outlines coordination mechanisms across government ministries and agencies, ensuring coherence and monitoring progress toward the 2026 goals. It builds on prior national digital policies such as CONPES 3920 (data policy), CONPES 3975 (digital transformation and AI), and CONPES 3995 (digital security), while complementing current long-term connectivity projects and the national data infrastructure plan.