Washington, DC —  The Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue and the Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones (INDOTEL) announced today a strategic partnership aimed at equipping Dominican telecommunications regulators and policymakers with the knowledge and tools needed to build a digital ecosystem that protects individual’s rights and security, rather than serving the interests of authoritarian regimes. With this agreement, the Dominican Republic becomes the first government in Latin America to officially commit to a Tech Diplomacy partnership with the Krach Institute. 

Through this partnership, INDOTEL officials, regulators, and staff will gain access to the Krach Institute’s Tech Diplomacy Academy – the world’s first online education platform dedicated to preparing leaders across government, industry, and civil society to understand how critical and emerging technologies shape national power, economic competitiveness, and freedom. Courses will be available in both English and Spanish, covering technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and other emerging fields central to secure and resilient communications networks.

This partnership aligns directly with the U.S. National Security Strategy, emphasizing the importance of enlisting and expanding trusted partnerships across the Western Hemisphere. By strengthening the Dominican Republic’s technological capabilities, the U.S. and its partners can ensure that critical digital infrastructure – including spectrum management, broadband networks, and emerging technologies – remains guided by democratic partners instead of authoritarian regimes trying to extend their reach.

“Our partnership with INDOTEL strengthens the Western Hemisphere’s ability to prioritize trusted technology over authoritarian alternatives,” said Michelle Giuda, CEO of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue. “By equipping partners in the Dominican Republic with the tools to build secure digital infrastructure, we are advancing a shared ecosystem that protects democratic values, strengthens national security, and ensures innovation across the Americas remains transparent, competitive, and aligned with freedom.”

As the national regulatory authority for telecommunications in the Dominican Republic, INDOTEL plays a vital role in managing the radio spectrum, overseeing the rollout of 5G and the National Broadband Plan, and protecting user rights. This partnership strengthens the ability to distinguish between trusted technology and authoritarian tools to INDOTEL’s capacity-building, allowing participants to advance their understanding of how emerging technologies affect national security and global standards.

“This strategic partnership with the Krach Institute brings global expertise directly to Dominican telecommunications leaders,” said Dr. Guido Gómez Mazara, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones. “It strengthens our workforce, expands access to trusted technology education, and supports our commitment to building secure, innovative, and inclusive digital infrastructure that benefits all citizens.”

The collaboration also creates opportunities for INDOTEL staff to participate in Institute-hosted convenings – including roundtables, workshops, summits, and policy dialogues – as part of the Krach Institute’s Global Trusted Tech Network, the fastest-growing coalition of governments, companies, organizations, and individuals united by a shared conviction: technology must advance freedom. Through this network, INDOTEL will join partners across the Americas and around the world to advance the adoption of trusted technology and promote democratic values. The partnership builds on the Institute’s expanding global engagement – including its recent strategic collaboration with the U.S. Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI) to embed tech diplomacy into telecom training for regulators and policymakers – empowering allied countries and companies to secure their digital infrastructure and prevent authoritarian influence in emerging technologies.