For fifteen years, ICT Pulse has documented, questioned, and contextualised the technologies shaping the Caribbean region. Launched at a time when regional ICT conversations were still emerging, the platform has consistently offered analysis grounded in Caribbean realities—examining policy, infrastructure, innovation, and digital transformation beyond the headlines and hype. This commemorative article, by Editor and Publisher Michele Marius, reflects on ICT Pulse’s journey, its contribution to regional tech discourse, and why a distinctly Caribbean perspective on ICT remains essential as the region navigates new digital frontiers.
Earlier this week, ICT Pulse turned 15! Who would have thought I would have a teenager on my hands? To commemorate this milestone, I am sharing some thoughts and reflections on the journey to date.
Let’s start at the very beginning…
ICT Pulse came about because, on returning to the region in 2010, I realised that all of the discourse on telecommunications and ICT was being informed almost exclusively by what was happening in developed countries. There was limited discourse in the region on technology, its impact within our societies, etc. Further, I knew that although we were enthusiastic consumers of technology and tended to punch above our weight with respect to average spend/revenue, I did not get a sense that we did not know that we had a voice—and clout—in global conversations on technology, or even with tech suppliers. However, to prudently exercise our agency, we needed to be better informed not only about what was going on around us, but also how those happenings could affect us.
Also, and on a personal note, because I had recently returned to the region, I recognised that I did not have much visibility professionally. However, ICT Pulse could be a vehicle for me to demonstrate my domain expertise and my passion for the continued development of the Caribbean region.
Our content and focus
Long-time readers of ICT Pulse may have realised that we have touched on almost every topical subject on ICT and its impact on the Caribbean region. Actually, our very first article was on cloud computing, Is it really in the Clouds? How 5 stated trends in Cloud Computing really stack up, and our position on then-stated trends is still quite sound. Moreover, it is interesting that 15 years later, cloud is still very much relevant, though of course the conversation has evolved from the pros and cons of using cloud services, to examining matters related to data protection, privacy, Security, data sovereignty, etc.
It is also great to see how ICT Pulse has evolved and even come into its own. For example, the Snapshot series, which we also began in 2011 and have sought to maintain over the years, would have been among the first to report on the region’s performance in various global assessments so that individual Caribbean countries could gauge their performance and compare it against others, whether in the region or internationally. I was always pleasantly surprised when newspaper publications would either reference a Snapshot article to inform their piece. Unfortunately, and to some degree, either the data we would use to prepare those Snapshot articles is no longer being collected, or if it is, it is not as publicly available as it had previously been.
Another important touch point of ICT Pulse has been the weekly news roundups, published on Mondays, since late July 2011. The Roundup started because of my own need to keep abreast of what was happening in the regional tech space, which at the time meant wading through the online publications to supplement what few were picked up through search engines and RSS feeds. It also meant that there was a vacuum we could fill that others would find valuable.
Finally, I am particularly proud of the podcast and our effort to amplify the voices, the expertise, and the innovation that are happening within the Caribbean region. All too often, we operate in silos and do not know what is happening in our sister countries. However, people who we never knew existed are doing wonderful things and may be trying to solve problems similar to our own. Not only should we know who these people are and what they are doing, but we should also be celebrating their achievements and, consequently, their contribution to the region.
The secret sauce to our longevity
As one would expect, sustaining ICT Pulse over the past 15 years has not been easy. In virtually all online engagement platforms, consistency and commitment are critical to maintaining one’s audience. Having said this, the online space has evolved considerably over the years, and it is more difficult to find and maintain one’s audience. Organic growth has become non-existent, and even the role social media used to play to help extend reach has changed over the years.
Also, online content has exploded since 2011, when it was estimated at 1.8 zettabytes (ZB), to approximately 181 ZB in 2025, increasing over 100 times during that period (Source: Statista). As a result, content consumption has changed over the years, with so much more fighting for people’s attention, which has affected the size of our audience. Notwithstanding, we have sought to limit the gimmicks and remain true to our core and our purpose, “Discussing ICT issues from a Caribbean perspective”, and trust that our audience will find us if we remain consistent.
Looking back and looking forward
Having said this, I must acknowledge and thank everyone who has been part of the ICT Pulse story so far. Contributors, who have written articles over the years, podcast guests and our reading and listening audience have all helped to show the world the depth and breadth of the Caribbean tech space and how it has been evolving.
Finally, although I cannot promise that ICT Pulse will be around for another 15 years 😁, for as long as we are around, I hope you will continue to support us and help us share the Caribbean region’s digital development journey.
Image credit: M Marius (Canva)
