NEW TECHNOLOGIES? PLATFORM CAPITALISM AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE INCREASE IN INTERNET BROADBAND

Abstract

The expansion of broadband internet and digital platforms has profoundly transformed contemporary capitalism. This article analyzes the relationship between internet infrastructure and the emergence of a new model of economic accumulation based on the production and distribution of digital content. Using a qualitative analytical approach supported by international secondary data, the study examines trends in internet penetration, broadband expansion and the economic contribution of the ICT sector. The results show that broadband infrastructure plays a central role in enabling new digital markets, particularly in the areas of streaming services, social media and online entertainment. However, the analysis also reveals significant structural asymmetries between developed and developing economies in their ability to generate and capture value within the digital economy. While technological innovation and content production remain concentrated in the Global North, many developing economies participate primarily as consumers of digital services. The article discusses the implications of these dynamics for Latin America and highlights the need for policies aimed at strengthening digital innovation and local content production.