Page 4 - CANCION 1ST QTR 2020

CANTO

EDITORIAL

(English)

COVID-19 – fast… furious… deadly;
but being contained through Connectivity

elcome to our first digital Cancion may have turned upside down, but the resilience of the
magazine! As we promised last year, human spirit remains strong…and that spirit is being
CANTO’s signature publication is now fired by connectivity.
Waccessible online on our revamped
website. We look forward to receiving your insightful Covid-19 is showing us that connectivity – internet
articles, as we continue our tradition of keeping our access, broadband availability and consistency, telephone
members on the cutting edge of developments in the and mobile access - is vitally essential to surviving
ICT industry. Unfortunately, our new milestone comes in and navigating this crisis. When putting forward their
the midst of a global crisis that puts into gut wrenching eleven (11) Regulatory Recommendations to sustain
perspective, the well-worn new-millennium maxim, connectivity during Covid-19, the GSMA notes,
“gone viral”. “the Covid-19 crisis has put the spotlight on digital
connectivity as an absolute necessity of modern life,
Fortunately, we were able to conduct our 36th Annual and a tool that can be depended upon as governments
General Meeting in February in Cuba. However, Covid- work to protect citizens and save lives”.
19 has raged like wildfire through sport, business,
entertainment and social calendars worldwide. As you Our world has hit the pause button, with lingering
know, our Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition has uncertainty when we can all, without gloved or sanitised
also fallen victim to this new coronavirus. In the interest hands, once again hit play. Perhaps our modern lifestyles
of the safety and well-being of all our members and may even turn into a full reset. Will we return to business
delegates, the hard decision was taken to cancel the July as usual? Covid-19 is clearly strengthening the case for
2020 Conference. All members will be kept apprised of broadband to be a utility — as so much more activity
the details of the 2021 AGM and Annual Conference, is pushed online.
as preparations get underway.
At CANTO, we are aware and encouraged to see that
The Covid-19 pandemic has unleashed a global wave of Governments across our Region have categorised
panic, fear, social distancing, closure of physical national telecommunications activities and personnel as essential,
borders, in-country lockdowns, and quite possibly for allowing for continued connectivity as the Covid-
some countries and their citizens; a dramatic reversal 19 pandemic spreads across the world, and social
of economic fortunes. Yet out of the crisis of Covid-19, distancing and stay-at-home directives have driven an
we hear stories and see living examples of sacrifice, unprecedented surge in network traffic volumes.
courage, selflessness and commitment. Our world

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