FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FEBRUARY 5, 2025

CANTO Connect 2025 Closes on a High Note: Collaboration, Innovation, and Progress

A united Industry effort to innovate and transform regional telecoms

 

WILLEMSTAD, Curaçao – Telecommunications leaders, innovators, and policymakers from across the Caribbean convened in Curaçao for CANTO Connect 2025 and 41st Annual General Meeting (AGM). The highly anticipated three-day event kicked off on January 26th at the Renaissance Wind Creek Curaçao Resort and ran through January 28th, co-hosted by the Regulatory Authority of Curaçao (RAC).

CANTO theme 2025: Towards a Unified and Sustainable Gigabit Society

CANTO’s 2025 events will explore the region’s transition to a gigabit society. With declining infrastructure investment returns due to over-the-top (OTT) competition, industry leaders emphasised the urgent need for collaboration and policy harmonisation to secure a sustainable future. Outgoing Chairman, Mike Antonius, stressed that “a Caribbean Gigabit Society requires coordinated, multi-stakeholder collaboration among policymakers, private investors, and technology providers.

Addressing funding shortfalls, regulatory inefficiencies, and market imbalances through fair-share infrastructure cost models and harmonised policies will be essential.” He noted that these efforts will help bridge the digital divide, foster inclusive development, and position the Caribbean as a strong player in the global digital economy.

Dr. Delreo Newman, in his address, as the new Chairman of CANTO acknowledged his predecessor’s visionary leadership and emphasized his commitment to strengthening CANTO’s role in fostering digital transformation across the Caribbean.

“We stand at a pivotal moment where technology intersects with possibility. We must seize this opportunity to steer our region toward a connected and resilient future and work with governments to achieve their vision of a gigabit society by 2030. Moreover, inclusive will be at the heart of our strategy – ensuring equitable access to telecom services across all demographics to drive social and economic progress” said Chairman Newman.

Industry-Wide Collaboration for a Digital Future

Echoing this sentiment, Damian Blackburn, President and CEO of platinum sponsor ATN International Operators, highlighted the necessity of industry-wide cooperation. “We must collaborate in ways we never have before to realise a unified and sustainable One Gigabit Caribbean,” he stated. ATNI is already leading by example via:

  • Expanding its MMG digital payments platform to support top-ups for all three major network operators;
  • Enhancing network resilience through shared fibre assets and independent wireless ISPs to extend internet reach; and
  • Strengthening partnerships across the digital ecosystem to drive innovation and inclusion.

 

Sustainability and the Digital Economy

Delivering the keynote address at CANTO Connect’s opening ceremony, Curaçao’s Minister of Traffic, Transport, and Urban Planning, the Hon. Charles Cooper, underscored the critical role of sustainability in the sector’s modernisation.

“Sustainability is no longer a choice; it is a necessity. Telecommunications can play a transformative role in achieving our sustainability goals by:

Using connected technologies to optimise energy use, reduce waste, and improve urban living.

Enabling remote work and virtual collaboration to reduce carbon emissions linked to commuting and travel, contributing to the green economy.

For Curaçao, aligning economic growth with environmental responsibility is key to ensuring that the progress we make today benefits generations to come,” he added.

 

CANTO’s Vision for the Future

The body’s Secretary General, Teresa Wankin, also speaking at the event’s opening ceremony, emphasised that CANTO’s work will extend beyond telecommunications. “Education, health, agriculture, and finance are just a few sectors where digital transformation can drive meaningful change.”

She noted that the agenda for the three-day event reflected this cross-industry focus, with workshops and discussions ranging from FinTech and subsea telecommunications sustainability to life-saving early warning systems. These sessions, she added, will provide opportunities to explore how technology can unlock economic resilience and create new opportunities for the Caribbean. As CANTO charts the path forward, its new leadership is poised to drive the industry toward a more connected, resilient, and inclusive Caribbean digital future.

 

About CANTO

CANTO is the leading telecommunications trade association in the Caribbean with 100+ members, advocating for ICT development and digital transformation across the region. The association’s 2025 Conference and Trade Exhibition will be held July 13-16, 2025, at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar- The Bahamas.

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For media inquiries, please contact: Chrisal Martin, Sales and Marketing Officer, CANTO

Email: cmartin@canto.org; Mobile: 1 868 788 2467