Trinidad & Tobago to Host 2016 Caribbean Broadband Forum

Trinidad and Tobago will host the 2016 Caribbean Broadband Forum, scheduled to take place on 14 - 16 July 2016 in the seaside capital city Port of Spain.

The positive impact of broadband access on economic development is widely evidenced globally, and as with other regions of the world, most Caribbean countries have adopted specific broadband policies, or at least policies with targets for broadband, in order to accelerate access to broadband connectivity by all. However, implementing such policies requires significant public as well as private sector investment.

According to the Commonwealth Telecommunication Organisation (CTO), on average, countries of the region do not markedly differ from the rest of the world with a region’s average fixe broadband penetration of 12 per cent. However, with an average 27 per cent mobile broadband penetration, the region is significantly below the world average of 41 per cent.

Organised by CTO, the July event is expected to address challenges and opportunities for broadband in the Caribbean, including: impact of broadband access on the economic development of the region; progress on national broadband plans; regulatory factors affecting broadband access in specific Caribbean countries; long-haul and last mile solutions, including 4G/LTE

infrastructure financing broadband applications, Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data, and spectrum opportunities.

Secretary-General of the CTO, Mr. Shola Taylor, said: “We understand the peculiar challenges faced by most countries of the region, not least the growing spill over of broadcasting audiences embracing on-demand viewing alternatives over broadband networks. Nevertheless, broadband access should be a right for all, not a privilege of a few, and so this event is part of our efforts to help accelerate universal broadband access for all Caribbean citizens.”

Chief Executive Officer of the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, CrisSeecheran, said: “Trinidad and Tobago is committed to universal access to broadband, as we recognise the important contribution fast and reliable access to the Internet makes to our economic development. Since this event is open to all Caribbean islands and not just members of the Commonwealth, it will be an opportunity to collectively address some of