Comments on: We have achieved lower rates and improved access to telecoms services… now what? https://ict-pulse.com/2011/02/we-have-achieved-lower-rates-and-improved-access-to-telecoms-services%e2%80%a6-now-what/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=we-have-achieved-lower-rates-and-improved-access-to-telecoms-services%25e2%2580%25a6-now-what&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=we-have-achieved-lower-rates-and-improved-access-to-telecoms-services%25e2%2580%25a6-now-what Discussing ICT, telecommunications and technology Issues from a Caribbean perspective Sun, 06 Feb 2011 08:31:38 +0000 hourly 1 By: Michael https://ict-pulse.com/2011/02/we-have-achieved-lower-rates-and-improved-access-to-telecoms-services%e2%80%a6-now-what/#comment-26 Sun, 06 Feb 2011 08:31:38 +0000 http://www.ict-pulse.com/?p=111#comment-26 I think that while governments must wield the bigger end of the ICT development mantle, it is the citizenry that largely provide and drive initiatives. Without the latter government efforts eventually amount to little. There is a lot that has been condensed to form the frame of this article. Many points raised merit full-fledged articles by themselves. Take “virtualisation” as an innovative piece to the higher end of ICT sector, for eg. Riding on the ICT wave of ubiquity, small businesses need not have a physical presence in their desired markets. And all this can be achieved with ICT infrastructure that is currently present.

]]> By: Drew https://ict-pulse.com/2011/02/we-have-achieved-lower-rates-and-improved-access-to-telecoms-services%e2%80%a6-now-what/#comment-21 Wed, 02 Feb 2011 17:39:30 +0000 http://www.ict-pulse.com/?p=111#comment-21 Great points. Some of the major challenges to progress are the unwillingness of governments to have a realistic strategic plan and take the necessary steps to pass the legislations to enable e-Commerce and make bold steps to ensure ICT entrepreneurship. Also the lack of reluctance of financial companies to support e-commerce and e-Business, namely the large banking institutions who do not seriously support e-anything in order to promote their interests. There’s also the lack of strategic and more so long term vision by key decision makers.

In some Caribbean islands the ICT sector and especially provision of services is still not open enough. As a result, the available speeds and cost for broadband compared to other islands is poor. Unfortunately, the fault lies with previous governments and present governments which didn’t see the importance of having cable and other providers to enter the broadcasting /telecoms market. Now they are playing catchup as far as higher broadband speeds and afford-ability (not talking DSL speeds here). See this link to show how backward thinking some of our “leaders”in the Caribbean are:

http://bajanreporter.com/why-a-cellphone-tax-would-allow-all-of-barbados-to-access-free-internet-ex-deputy-pm-offers-advice-to-local-entrepreneurs/

]]>