FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JANUARY 30, 2025

USD 9 Billion+ Needed to Support Caribbean’s Transition to a Gigabit Society

WILLEMSTAD, Curaçao –       The Caribbean’s transition to a gigabit society, defined by widespread high-speed internet connectivity of 1 gigabit per second (Gbps), requires an investment of upwards of USD 9 billion, according to Lisa Agard, Chair of CANTO’s C9 group. Speaking on the second day of CANTO’s 41st Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Renaissance Wind Creek Curaçao Resort, Agard highlighted the urgent need for infrastructural upgrades to bridge the region’s digital divide.

Agard emphasised the strong correlation between internet connectivity and economic development, noting that the Caribbean lags 15-20 points behind Europe and the USA on the International Telecommunications Union’s (ITU) ICT Development Index (IDI). She gave the more than 300 delegates some key statistics:

Connectivity Gaps and Their Impact

  • Close to 15 million people across the region, including Haiti, lack mobile connectivity.
  • 4.6 million households remain without any form of internet access, whether mobile or broadband.
  • Digital exclusion impedes workforce upskilling, entrepreneurship, and business competitiveness.
  • Establishing smart communities is at risk due to inadequate digital infrastructure.

Investment Challenges and OTT Impact

Despite annual infrastructure investments exceeding USD 500 million since 2017, regional telecom operators struggle to see returns. Agard highlighted that 70% of network data traffic is consumed by Over-the-Top (OTT) services, which do not contribute to network deployment or maintenance. With regional data traffic across regional networks set to grow by twenty-six percent (26%), requiring infrastructure upgrades five times what now exists, Agard says regional governments must do all it takes to secure the funding for the necessary upgrades if the region is to realise its goals of universal connectivity and digital transformation in a 5G and ultra-fast internet connectivity world.

The investment needed to achieve gigabit society status includes:

  • USD 3.45 billion for mobile network upgrades.
  • USD 5.8 to USD 10.8 billion for fibre-based broadband connectivity.

“The Caribbean’s digital transformation cannot wait,” Agard stated. “We must make bold, strategic decisions to ensure universal, high-speed connectivity for economic growth and social development.”

 

 

About CANTO

CANTO is the leading telecommunications trade association in the Caribbean, advocating for ICT development and digital transformation across the region.
For media inquiries, please contact:

Chrisal Martin, Sales and Marketing Officer
CANTO
cmartin @ canto.org
1 868 788 2467