Hundreds Benefit from Free Wi-fi This Christmas

Hundreds of residents in Portland, Clarendon, St. Mary and St. Ann are now benefitting from free highspeed internet under the Universal Service Fund’s (USF) Wi-fi Hotspot Programme.

The USF recently rolled out five new public Wi-fi hotspots in Annotto Bay, St. Mary; Ocho Rios, St.ann; Chapleton and May Pen in Clarendon and Port Antonio in Portland. Each hotspot enables 200 concurrent users to access the internet from a city-centre or town centre location.

The latest Wi-fi hotspots were deployed in partnership with ICT solutions provider, C&W Business Jamaica. Speaking at the Ocho Rios Public Wi-fi

Hotspot launch on December 4, Carol Robertson, Director – Government & Enterprise, C&W Business Jamaica expressed gratitude that C&W’S technology is being used to empower people and transform lives.

“At C&W Business Jamaica, our mandate is to connect communities and transform lives through our technology.

Our partnership with the USF is a palpable example of that mandate coming to life. Now the out-of-towner can access google maps for directions using a Wi-fi hotspot and children can download educational materials on their cell phones while accompanying their parents in the city centre.

We’re making a difference!” said Robertson.

The USF is funded by a levy on incoming international calls to mobile lines, and incoming international calls that terminate on fixed lines. The USF uses these funds for the execution of a myriad of national ICT projects to ensure that Jamaica becomes a knowledge-based society.

“The expansion of our Wi-fi Hotspot Programme is in keeping with the Government’s agenda to make internet free and accessible in high traffic areas across the island. We began work on this mandate in 2017 and, to date, we have deployed to eight parishes,” shared Daniel Dawes, CEO, Universal Service Fund.

(L-R) Hon. Fayval Williams, Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Daryl Vaz, Minister of Science. Energy & Technology and Carol Robertson, Director – Government & Enterprise, C&W Business Jamaica in conversation at the launch of the Ocho Rios Wifi Hotspot.

(L-R) Carol Robertson, Director – Government & Enterprise, C&W Business Jamaica, Hon. Daryl Vaz, Minister of Science. Energy & Technology and Daniel Dawes, CEO, Universal Service Fund bump elbows at the launch of the Ocho Rios Wifi Hotspot on Friday, December 4.

Kwan Wilson, Director of Projects, Universal Service Fund assists an eager attendee at one of the Agency’s recent launches with signing on to the free Public Wi-fi service.