1. Caribbean Telecommunications Union Caribbean Broadband Review Connecting the next billion users Presented by Bernadette Lewis Secretary General Caribbean Telecommunications Union

2. Caribbean Telecommunications Union Established in 1989 in The Bahamas by Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ministers responsible for Telecommunications, to be the inter-governmental telecommunications policy instrument for the Caribbean 2003: Defined a new strategic direction to address issues of information and communications technologies 2004: Expanded Membership to include Private sector organisations Introduction to the CTU

3. Caribbean Telecommunications Union Policy Formulation Internet Governance Spectrum Management Other areas in ICT Capacity Development Caribbean Centre of Excellence ICT Training Programmes Technical Assistance Caribbean ICT information Representation International Fora ITU, CITEL, ICANN, ARIN, LACNIC et al CTU Activities

4. Caribbean Telecommunications Union Internet Governance Spectrum Management Policy Reform Caribbean Centre of Excellence Caribbean ICT Harmonisation Connected Caribbean Initiative CTU Projects

5. Caribbean Telecommunications Union Caribbean Characterised by diversity –Island and continental states –Countries among the richest and poorest –Different cultures and languages –Different stages of development The Caribbean cannot be generalised Caribbean Overview

6. Caribbean Telecommunications Union Pre-2000 Caribbean markets dominated by monopoly service providers –International facilities controlled by dominant service providers –Non-existent or high cost broadband service –Mainly commercial use of broadband services –Low Internet penetration – dialup services Historical Perspective

7. Caribbean Telecommunications Union 2000 - Commencement of liberalisation of Caribbean markets. – Many licenses granted, new entrants experienced challenges in setting up operations –Network coverage improved –International facilities were still controlled by dominant service providers –Slow development of truly competitive markets Early Stages of Liberalisation

8. Caribbean Telecommunications Union Cost of Broadband 2005-2006 COUNTRYTECHNOLOGYDOWN (Speed Kbps) UPUS$/ MONTH USAADSL76812815.00 CanadaCable60012824.30 CanadaADSL1,00031.30 Antigua & BarbudaBWA12864181.39 BahamasCable1,00025610.70 BarbadosADSL76812886.30 BelizeADSL1025256265.00 Cayman IslandsBWA51225672.30 Dominican RepublicADSL76851249.80 GrenadaADSL51212873.00 JamaicaADSL25612855.00 St. LuciaADSL51212854.70 Trinidad & TobagoADSL2566472.55 Source: Assessment of the Telecommunication Services Sector in CARICOM Dr. Peter Stern - 2006

9. Caribbean Telecommunications Union Cost of Broadband ~2005-2006 High cost of Broadband –Slow uptake of Broadband Services especially for residential service –Dial-up service limited meaningful access to Internet and its potential

10. Caribbean Telecommunications Union Overview of Regional Infrastructure Marine Fibre Systems –Eastern Caribbean Fiber System –Americas-1 and Americas-2 Consortia –Pan-Am, Maya-1 Consortia –Taino Caribe, CARAC et al –**Characterised by fragmentation Satellite systems –Typically high costs

11. Caribbean Telecommunications Union Emergence of resilient integrated pan Caribbean systems providing more options for international connectivity Regional Connectivity - Recent Systems Columbus Group Global Caribbean Network Antilles Crossing

12. Caribbean Telecommunications Union Impact on Cost of Broadband - 2008 Country Download kbps Upload kbps 2005/6 US$/Month 2008 US$/Month Trinidad & Tobago 51212877.0021.00 Cayman Islands51225670.8029.95 Antigua & Barbuda512128183.10129.00 Significant reductions in the cost of broadband Increased uptake of broadband services

13. Caribbean Telecommunications Union Barriers to Access Access costs are decreasing. What other barriers exist? Lack of Education and Public Awareness Cost of Access Devices Still some last mile challenges Insufficient attention paid to the differently abled (visually/physically challenged) indigenous peoples

14. Caribbean Telecommunications Union Facilitating Connectivity Governments Implementing strategies to provide Universal Access to broadband facilities –Jamaica & OECS– Universal Access Fund –Jamaica: Reduced rates for broadband in the licence agreement –Trinidad/Tobago – FastForward: National ICT Strategy –Antigua and Barbuda: Mobile cyber-café –Barbados: Educons –Various countries: Tele-centres, Libraries, Schools Removal of taxes on computers

15. Caribbean Telecommunications Union Facilitating Connectivity Operators Implementing strategies to facilitate access –TSTT, Telesur, Cable and Wireless:Telecentres –Telesur:One Computer per child –Digicel: Pan Caribbean WiMAX personal broadband service –Other: WiMAX deployment Private Sector/Civil Society –Providing equipment and training in institutions and communities

16. Caribbean Telecommunications Union Facilitating Connectivity ITU: Connect the World/Connect the Americas CTU: Connected Caribbean Initiative 1.Harmonisation of ICT policies, legislation and regulations 2.Facilitate inter-working of regional governments 3.Connect and strengthen organizations, communities and individuals working on or in support of functional Caribbean Integration; 4.To provide a framework to foster development, integration and expansion of regional stakeholder groups 5.To support Caribbean Governments in achieving the MDGs CANTO: Connect the Caribbean Project 1.To bridge major gaps in ICT infrastructure development 2.To develop relevant and affordable services and applications.

17. Caribbean Telecommunications Union Thank You The CTU is committed to