A ‘One Gigabit Society’ is the longstanding vision of the European Union, which has also been adopted worldwide, including the Caribbean region. In this article, we provide a quick primer on the concept and highlight critical challenges the region must address to achieve that vision.

 

Over the past week, several news outlets highlighted the speech delivered by One Communications (Guyana) Inc. at the recently concluded Annual General Meeting of the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organizations (CANTO) in Curaçao. The speech, which was delivered by the company’s President of International Operations, Damien Blackburn, emphasised the importance of collaboration for Caribbean countries and the region as a whole to achieve a ‘One Gigabit Society’.

The concept of a One Gigabit Society has been around for nearly a decade when the European Commission (EC) outlined the following vision in its Connectivity for a European Gigabit Society (2016) policy, which should be achieved by 2025:

  • 1 Gbps (gigabit per second) speeds for all major socio-economic drivers and key institutions (schools, hospitals, businesses, transportation hubs).
  • Uninterrupted 5G coverage in all urban areas and major roads and transport paths.
  • 100 Mbps (megabit per second)minimum for all European households, upgradable to 1 Gbps.

The Caribbean region has also been exploring the realisation of a Gigabit Society through a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Working Group. In a 2024 report entitled, Towards a Caribbean Gigabit Society 2030, the Working Group proposed a plan through which “to create a sustainable, digitally integrated, globally competitive region” (Source:  Stabroek News). However, many of us may not be familiar with the One Gigabit Society concept and, more so, what is being envisaged for our region.

 

So what is ‘One Gigabit Society’?

The “One Gigabit Society” is a vision for digital connectivity where every citizen, business, and public institution has access to high-speed internet with at least 1 Gbps (gigabit per second) speeds. Further, in achieving this target, the following features should also be evident and would need to be addressed:

  • Ultra-fast internet access, which would enable seamless streaming, cloud computing, smart cities, and digital transformation
  • Digital inclusion, with specific attention being given to eliminating the urban-rural divide with respect to high-speed internet access
  • Support for emerging technologies, such as 5G, IoT (Internet of Things), AI, and smart grids rely on high-speed internet.
  • More pronounced economic growth due to, among other things, increased productivity, improved efficiency, increased business development and entrepreneurship, and greater support for e-commerce and digital services.
  • Enhanced public services, due to improved online access to and delivery of government services and seamless integration of processes within and across government and the wider Public Service.

 

One Gigabit Society, from a Caribbean perspective

Without a doubt, the goal of realising a One Gigabit Society in the Caribbean region is a noble one as it can help to focus the individual and combined effort of all countries and players. However, to realistically achieve that goal in a timely manner, a comprehensive and cogent plan supported by all key stakeholders must be established and maintained. More importantly, there must be systems to track progress and enforce accountability, so that we all remain aligned and committed to the path agreed.

However, we also ought to consider the gap between where we currently are – as individual countries and a region – and where we supposedly want to be. Currently, that gap is WIDE! Factors contributing to the gap include the following:

  • Depending on the country, not all major socio-economic drivers and key institutions have internet access, and if they do, high-speed broadband internet service quality tends to be poor, especially in terms of reliability and transmission speeds.
  • Except for Guyana and the Cayman Islands, 5G service has not been deployed in Caribbean/CARICOM countries, and if it exists, service availability is extremely limited. Further, the major telecoms have already advised that they will not be deploying 5G networks in the region in the foreseeable future.
  • Transmission speeds for internet service across the region are very uneven. A common and minimum threshold has not been established, and depending on the country, it is considerably less than the 100 Mbps specified in the EC’s target.
  • Caribbean countries and the region as a whole are plagued with infrastructure and resilience challenges, which would be exacerbated when the high cost of rolling out and maintaining gigabit fibre networks is considered.
  • Thanks to uneven internet access in countries, rural areas still tend to struggle with slower and less reliable speeds than their urban counterparts, which in turn worsens the geographic digital divide.
  • To a considerable degree, regulatory policies and frameworks are very dated across the region, and do not properly support our increasingly digital societies, and more specifically, the goal of a One Gigabit Society.
  • Internet service affordability is still a challenge – both for individuals and small businesses. Individuals, especially those towards the base of the socio-economic pyramid, cannot afford continuous service, whilst micro and small businesses may only purchase the internet service they can afford and not the service they need. Hence, these existing challenges are likely to become more pronounced should gigabit service be launched without specific interventions.
  • The fundamental structures to support e-commerce, digital innovation and entrepreneurship are still lacking. Hence, even if a Gigabit Society was achieved in the foreseeable future, Caribbean countries and, by extension, the region would not be able to leverage that connectivity to accelerate their economic growth and development.

In summary, the One Gigabit Society vision is crucial for advancing technology exports, digital transformation, and economic growth of the Caribbean region. However, a broad range of problems exist that must be overcome. Further, achieving gigabit connectivity would be just the tip of the iceberg. Harnessing that connectivity will be critical and will require careful planning and coordination, along with the active and ongoing support of all countries and stakeholders.

Can Caribbean countries achieve a Gigabit Society by 2030? It is highly unlikely, but it is hoped that we will be well on our way and the target within reach.

 

 

Image credit:  shayne_ch13 (Freepik)