Lapatilla, a popular news website in Venezuela, reported on August 21, 2024, that Conatel, the National Telecommunications Commission, had allegedly ordered the blocking of internet access service provided by Colombian operators in Táchira, a border state in Venezuela. This decision has caused significant disruptions for residents who rely on these services for communication with family and friends abroad.
According to the report, many private companies offering internet service in Táchira have experienced continuous failures since the blocking of the social network X. Carolina Morales, a resident of San Cristóbal, shared her frustration after experiencing three consecutive days without internet access. Despite her repeated requests for information from the company, she was only informed recently that the Colombian internet provider would no longer operate in the state due to orders from Conatel.
Morales expressed her concerns about the impact of losing internet access on her ability to communicate with her family abroad. She highlighted the importance of video calls as a means of staying connected with loved ones and emphasized the reliability of the Colombian internet service that she had been using for over a year. The sudden discontinuation of this service has left her scrambling to find alternative options, which she finds to be prohibitively expensive.
The situation in Táchira is not unique to Morales, as other users have also reported intermittent internet service from different providers in the region. These companies have attributed the failures to issues with the main provider and have offered limited information to their customers. In an attempt to appease users, some providers have announced temporary alliances with other companies and offered discounts on future bills to compensate for the disruptions.
The decision to block Colombian internet operators in Táchira has raised concerns about the impact on residents who rely on these services for communication and connectivity. The lack of transparency from both the companies and Conatel regarding the reasons for the blockage has left users frustrated and uncertain about the future of their internet access.
As the situation continues to unfold, residents of Táchira are left grappling with the challenges of finding reliable and affordable internet services. The disruptions caused by the blocking of Colombian operators have underscored the importance of a stable and accessible internet infrastructure for communication and connectivity in the region.