Unleashing the Internet in the Caribbean Removing Barriers to Connectivity and Stimulating Better Access in the Region February 2017 iStock.com/Claudiad By Bionda Fonseca-Hoeve, Michele Marius, Shernon Osepa, Jane Coffin, and Michael Kende Unleashing the Internet in the Caribbean – Stimulating Better Access in the Region 1 Table of Contents Letter from the President ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 4 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 6 2 Overview of the Caribbean .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 10 Geographic, Demographic and Economic Indicators ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 11 Policy, Legal and Regulatory Context ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Regional ICT Initiatives .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Summary .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 21 3 Internet Infrastructure in the Caribbean ........................................................................................................................................................................... 22 International Internet Backbone ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22 National Network ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 26 Last Mile to End User ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Summary ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 33 4 Internet Adoption and Use .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 34 Usage .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 34 Subscription Density ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 35 Service Affordability ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 38 Impact of Mobile/Cellular Service on Internet Adoption and Use ....................................................................................................................................................... 40 Summary ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 44 5 Challenges of Unleashing the Internet .............................................................................................................................................................................. 45 Infrastructure and Enabling Environment ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 45 Adoption and Usage ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 49 Summary ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 54 6 Recommendations: Managing Challenges, Capitalising on Opportunities .......................................................................... 55 Policy and Implementation Framework .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 55 Private Sector Participation and Innovation ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 57 e-Participation by the Wider Society ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 58 Government Intervention ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 59 Investment Promotion .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 59 Regional Approach and Collaboration ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 60 7 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 61 Appendix A. Survey ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 62 Appendix B. List of Figures ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................