Although countries worldwide may be moving quickly to deploy 5G technology, the major Caribbean internet network carriers have indicated that they will not be doing so in the foreseeable future. Marc Kneppers and Sarah McNeill, of TTG in the Cayman Islands, discuss 5G and the company’s innovation grants programme, and answer questions such as: What could be the benefit to Caribbean countries of 5G? Whether Caribbean internet carriers should focus on strengthening their 4G LTE networks before deploying 5G? And how Caribbean countries might still be able to position themselves to experience or leverage 5G, despite the posture of their internet carriers?

  

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Since about 2018, we at ICT Pulse have been discussing 5G (or Fifth Generation) mobile/cellular technology: the pros, cons and even the Caribbean region’s readiness for its deployment. However, five years later, it does not appear that we are any closer to having it available –although testing of Sixth Generation (6G) technology has been ongoing, and the official standard could be released as early as next year, 2024.

However, 4G deployment across the region is still patchy, even in urban areas, which should have the best coverage. And with internet network carriers intimating that creating a viable business case for 5G is a challenge, it seems that Caribbean countries already have their hands full in maximising the already installed technologies.  

Having said this, mobile/cellular technology continues to evolve. It is thus crucial that we are able to fully wrap our heads around the developments and are strategic in how we wish to proceed.

 

Introducing our guests

Marc Kneppers

Marc Kneppers is the Chief Technology Officer of TTG, a Cayman Islands-based technology company, with a mission to maximize the use of 5G mobile technology in the Caribbean. TTG translates communications experiences from leading 5G adopters into opportunities for the Caribbean market. 

Marc is a highly experienced security and technology leader. Having over 25 years of experience in a broad range of technologies and environments, he has a proven track record of delivering unique solutions and developing technology in the fields of internet services, telecommunications security, and data analytics. Marc is a global leader in the telecommunications field and is recognised as a technical security expert and leader by government and standards organisations.  Most recently, Marc has designed the Tobok Cyber Innovation Centre (TCIC), a 5G technology lab, and is working with our clients to bring early innovator solutions to the Caribbean market.

 

Sarah McNeill is a Project Manager at TTG, and focal point for the 5G Innovation Grant.

 

Insights into our conversation

As the world becomes more connected, the need to have internet speeds and quality that can support the growing range of services and activities is becoming more crucial for countries and will influence the rate at which they will become digital societies. As indicated earlier, the major internet network carriers have indicated that the deployment of 5G technology is not currently on their radar, and so there is some concern that Caribbean countries are being left behind.

This conversation with Marc is especially insightful for several reasons. First, he knows his stuff with respect to 5G and was helpful in separating facts from the hype. Second, he recognises that the business case for 5G deployment can be a challenge for many countries, and for developing countries in particular, and is able to discuss the issue within that context. And third, he is still prepared to challenge us to be proactive and think outside the proverbial box.

Questions for Marc:

  1. What is 5G and what makes it different from 4G?
  2. What could be the benefit to Caribbean countries of 5G? But what are the challenges?
  3. Although regional telcos have indicated that they will not be deploying 5G in the foreseeable future, how might Caribbean countries be able to position themselves to experience or leverage 5G?
  4. Based on the current development of Caribbean societies, is 5G deployment necessary, or would we be just playing to hype if it is rolled out now?
  5. Across the region, 4G LTE is available, but deployment is still limited primarily to the most populated areas in countries. Should telcos focus on strengthening their LTE networks so that there is better coverage and consumers experience improved performance? Or instead, a strategy be developed to adopt 5G, noting that the 6G standard is just around the corner?
  6. You may be aware that the CARICOM region trying to establish a Single ICT Space which is supposed to be the digital layer upon which the CARICOM Single Market and Economy will be established. Could there be value in the regional posture being taken to adopt 5G?

Questions for Sarah:

  • TTG has a 5G innovation grant programme. Why was this programme established?
  • What are the eligibility requirements and have any grants been awarded so far?
  • What is TTG’s appetite for failure should the outcomes of the funded projects not be as expected?

 

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Let’s make it happen!

 

Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode or otherwise, might be useful:

 

 

Images credit:  M Kneppers;  ADMC (Pixabay);  Frederik Lipfert (Unsplash);  rawpixel.com (Freepik)

Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support:  Mayra Bonilla Lopez