MinTIC and Grupo Energía Bogotá Bring Rural Internet to Medina

By Anika Shah - Technology Updated September 7, 2026

An 11.791-billion-peso rural internet project in Medina, Cundinamarca, will connect 303 families across 11 rural districts and 10 rural schools using a tax-offset funding mechanism. According to the Mayor’s Office of Medina, the infrastructure initiative relies on a partnership between the Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications (MinTIC) and Grupo Energía Bogotá, bypassing municipal budget allocations entirely.

Project Funding and Institutional Partners

The 11,791,000,000-peso investment is executed through Colombia’s “Obras por Impuestos” (Works for Taxes) mechanism, which allows corporations to direct a portion of their tax obligations toward regional development projects in designated zones. According to municipal disclosures, the alliance joins MinTIC and Grupo Energía Bogotá to deploy connectivity infrastructure in remote areas that historically lack reliable broadband access. The municipal administration attributed the project’s coordination to Mayor Rigaud Peña. The initiative targets persistent digital divides caused by the dispersion of the rural population and geographical conditions across Medina’s rural sector, where traditional commercial expansion by telecom providers remains economically unfeasible.

Impact on Rural Education and Community Access

Beyond the 303 residential households included in the deployment, the rollout equips 10 rural educational facilities with broadband connections. According to local officials, the school installations provide students and teachers with direct access to digital learning platforms, cloud software, and online curricula that require high-speed data transmission. Geographic isolation has historically restricted educational equity in rural Cundinamarca. The newly funded nodes aim to eliminate these hurdles, allowing classrooms to integrate digital tools into daily instruction without relying on intermittent mobile signals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Medina internet project financed?

The project is funded through the “Obras por Impuestos” mechanism, enabling Grupo Energía Bogotá to allocate tax liabilities directly toward infrastructure deployment in coordination with MinTIC.

Does the project require local taxpayer funds?

No. According to the Mayor’s Office of Medina, the initiative utilizes private tax offsets and national ministry oversight, requiring zero capital from the municipal budget.

Who benefits from the new connectivity infrastructure?

The network covers 303 families and 10 rural schools distributed across 11 rural districts within the municipality of Medina.