The 21st century cannot begin for Colombians without universal connectivity
En las semanas finales de una campaña presidencial colombiana, el candidato Abelardo de la Espriella extendió una mano pública hacia Elon Musk, proponiendo convertir la conectividad rural en el eje de una alianza global. El gesto revela algo más profundo que una promesa electoral: la convicción de que el acceso a internet ya no es un privilegio, sino el umbral desde el cual una nación puede o no entrar al siglo XXI. En un país donde la geografía ha sido históricamente sinónimo de exclusión, la propuesta plantea una pregunta antigua con herramientas nuevas: ¿cómo se llega a quienes el Estado nunca ha alcanzado?
- Con menos de tres semanas para la segunda vuelta del 21 de junio, de la Espriella apostó por una jugada inusual: publicar en X una propuesta directa a Elon Musk para crear la mayor alianza rural de internet del mundo.
- La brecha digital en las zonas rurales de Colombia no es una estadística abstracta, sino una frontera invisible que separa a millones de ciudadanos del acceso a servicios, mercados y oportunidades.
- El candidato, conocido como 'El Tigre', ya había esbozado la idea en una conversación en vivo con el creador de contenido Westcol, dotando a la propuesta de un tono cercano y deliberadamente informal.
- Al nombrar a Musk y a SpaceX de forma explícita, de la Espriella buscó proyectar ambición internacional y diferenciar su agenda tecnológica de la del resto del campo electoral.
- La propuesta logró su primer objetivo antes de cualquier respuesta: instalar la conectividad rural como tema central del debate y sugerir que gobernar en el siglo XXI puede requerir aliados que no aparecen en los manuales tradicionales.
A menos de tres semanas de la segunda vuelta presidencial en Colombia, el candidato Abelardo de la Espriella recurrió a una táctica poco convencional: publicar directamente en X una propuesta para Elon Musk. En el mensaje, prometió que, de ser elegido el 21 de junio, impulsaría la mayor iniciativa de internet rural del mundo en alianza con SpaceX, reconociendo el historial del empresario en el uso de la conectividad como herramienta contra la pobreza.
La idea no surgió de improviso. De la Espriella, abogado penalista apodado 'El Tigre', ya la había planteado durante una conversación transmitida en vivo con el creador de contenido Westcol. Allí describió la falta de internet en municipios y veredas alejadas como un problema estructural, no como un detalle menor. Su argumento era directo: la conectividad no es un lujo, es infraestructura, y sin ella el siglo XXI simplemente no comienza para millones de colombianos. Dijo que, de ganar, llamaría a Musk sin más trámite.
Lo que distinguió el movimiento fue su forma tanto como su fondo. En lugar de anunciar planes por canales institucionales, de la Espriella usó las redes para interpelar públicamente a un magnate extranjero, presentándolo no como una figura lejana sino como un socio potencial cuyos intereses coincidían con las necesidades del país. La apuesta era también electoral: al nombrar a Musk y SpaceX, señalaba ambición y alcance internacional en un momento en que cada gesto cuenta.
Si Musk respondería, o si de la Espriella llegaría siquiera a la presidencia, eran preguntas sin respuesta. Pero la propuesta ya había cumplido una función: poner la brecha digital rural en el centro de la conversación y sugerir que cerrarla podría requerir una forma distinta de pensar el poder y sus alianzas.
With less than three weeks until Colombia's runoff presidential election, candidate Abelardo de la Espriella took an unconventional approach to campaigning: he posted directly to Elon Musk on X, proposing what he called the world's largest rural internet partnership.
De la Espriella, a criminal defense attorney known as "El Tigre," framed the pitch as both practical governance and personal appeal. In his post, he declared that if elected on June 21, he would establish a massive internet access initiative with SpaceX. He then addressed Musk directly, acknowledging the entrepreneur's track record of using connectivity to combat poverty across the globe. The message was clear: Colombia needed what Musk had already proven he could deliver elsewhere.
The proposal wasn't entirely new. During a livestreamed conversation with content creator Westcol, de la Espriella had already sketched out the idea. He spoke about the persistent problem of internet access in rural communities—the towns and villages far from Colombia's major urban centers where connectivity remains a luxury rather than a utility. He positioned digital access not as a nice-to-have but as essential infrastructure for the country's future. The candidate suggested he would simply pick up the phone, call Musk, and ask him to bring internet to Colombia. The tone was casual, almost colloquial, but the underlying argument was serious: the 21st century cannot begin for Colombians without universal connectivity.
What made de la Espriella's move noteworthy was its directness. Rather than announce infrastructure plans through traditional channels, he used social media to make a public appeal to a foreign billionaire. He framed Musk not as a distant tech mogul but as a potential partner in development—someone whose interests and Colombia's needs aligned. The candidate emphasized that connectivity was more than just laying roads; it was about reaching people wherever they lived.
The timing was strategic. With the election just over two weeks away, de la Espriella was staking out a position on digital infrastructure that distinguished him from other candidates. By naming Musk and SpaceX specifically, he was signaling ambition and international reach. He was also betting that rural Colombians—and urban voters who cared about rural development—would see this as a concrete, achievable goal rather than campaign rhetoric.
Whether Musk would respond, or whether a de la Espriella presidency would actually materialize, remained open questions. But the proposal had already accomplished something: it placed rural internet access at the center of the election conversation and suggested that Colombia's next leader might be willing to think unconventionally about how to close the digital divide.
Citações Notáveis
I will be president of Colombia with God's help and the people's support on June 21. In my government plan, I have proposed establishing the world's largest rural internet partnership with SpaceX.— Abelardo de la Espriella, in post on X
I'll pick up the phone and call our friend Elon Musk and say: 'Buddy, come on, let's get internet to Colombia.'— Abelardo de la Espriella, during livestream with Westcol
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
Why did he choose to make this pitch on social media rather than in a policy document or campaign speech?
Because Musk lives on X. De la Espriella was meeting him where he actually is, not where traditional politicians expect to find him. It's also a way of saying: I'm not afraid to be direct, I'm not bound by old playbooks.
Is rural internet access actually a major issue in Colombian politics, or is this candidate inventing a problem to solve?
It's very real. Huge swaths of the country have no reliable connectivity. But de la Espriella is doing something clever—he's taking a genuine problem and attaching it to a specific, famous solution. SpaceX's Starlink is already operating in other countries. He's not promising to invent something new; he's promising to bring something that works.
What does Musk get out of this, if anything?
A new market. Colombia has 50 million people. If de la Espriella wins and follows through, SpaceX gains a massive customer base in a country where satellite internet could genuinely change lives. Musk has always been interested in expanding Starlink globally. This is just someone offering to open a door.
Does calling Musk "compadre"—buddy—in that casual way actually matter?
It does. It strips away formality. De la Espriella is saying: we're peers, we can talk like normal people, we can make deals. It's disarming. It also suggests he's not intimidated by Musk's wealth or status, which appeals to voters who are tired of politicians who seem small in the presence of power.
What happens if he loses the election?
The proposal disappears. It was always contingent on him winning. But even if he loses, he's planted an idea in people's minds: that Colombia's connectivity problem has a solution, and that solution has a name and a face. That's not nothing.