Collaborative space in Santurce gets broadband hookup
From left: Puerto Rico Foundation executives Josh Olmsted and Damaris Ocasio, Columbus Business Solutions General Manager Félix Lugo, and Yarillys Torres, services liaison for the Foundation, during the signing of the agreement.
The Puerto Rico Foundation and Columbus Business Solutions announced Thursday an agreement whereby the latter will outfit the nonprofit’s “Colaboratorio” space in Santurce, enabling grassroots organizations sharing the space to have access to high-speed broadband technology.
Through an in-kind endowment of $35,000 a year for the next two years, Columbus Business Solutions is installing broadband, telephone service and a unified communications platform for the shared office space located in the Ciudadela complex in Santurce.
“This new office space is known for its architectural innovation and technological design, the latter thanks to Columbus’ contribution,” said Puerto Rico Foundation Chairman Jon Borschow.
“The agreement with Columbus enables us to maximize the benefits of technology to strengthen and promote the nonprofit organizations that will be with us in the ‘Colaboratorio’,” said Borschow.
The “Colaboratorio” will have access to video conferencing and live transmission services, room scheduling and other innovating products that depend on robust and reliable broadband.
“The service Columbus is offering will allow us to achieve our goals to show the innovation that can be achieved in Puerto Rico, by thinking differently and using the tools that are here on the island,” Borschow said.
Meanwhile, Félix Lugo, general manager of Columbus Business Solutions, said the company decided to back the Foundation’s project, as it falls in line with its vision of supporting sustainable development for the island.
“Using our island’s strategic position and the fiber optic capacity we offer, Puerto Rico becomes the connector between the north and south of the Americas,” Lugo said.
Through its contribution, Columbus Business Solutions joins Putnam Bridge, which put up $950,000 to help build and design the 8,700 square-foot “Colaboratorio.” The Puerto Rico Foundation is seeking out opportunities through companies looking to join and support the project that enables nonprofits to develop collaborative projects to boost sustainable development.
