Internet is a basic service
The pandemic created new digital demands and, as a result, deepened social and territorial inequalities in internet access. The social tariff is a good first solution, but more is needed.
The coronavirus outbreak has thrown the world economy into a deep recession, and forecasts of double-digit falls in GDP are not uncommon. Fortunately, not everything stopped. Many companies have withstood the shock by moving almost all their operations into the virtual world.
The same happened in education. Schools had to close, but teaching did not stop completely. There was disruption, of course. And a great deal of sacrifice by teachers, parents and pupils. Even so, it was possible to keep a certain level of functioning, thanks to various digital tools, many of them “imported” from the business world.
AI translation from the Portuguese. First published in ECO on 23 July 2020.