This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music!!

To some degree, it is likely that most of us have a bit of a love-hate relationship with the internet. Though we readily acknowledge its benefits and impact on our lives and livelihoods and perhaps would not wish to be without it, at the same time, we may also be prepared to admit that it has also brought with it certain complexities that, before, we did not have to consider.

However, with how busy our lives are these days, we may not even have the mental space to ponder these things. Nevertheless, there is perhaps an even greater need for us to be strategic in our internet use, and there might be an even greater obligation for those in leadership positions, as the frameworks and systems established affect not only their organisations but also their customers and the society at large.

So, what should you want from the internet in 2024 and beyond? That is a question only you can answer, but it is strongly recommended that you consider it and be intentional in your choices.

Introducing our guests

Rodney Taylor is the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU). Prior to that appointment, he was the Chief Digital Technology Officer of the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Smart Technology (MIST), in Barbados, where he was the technical lead on Barbados’ digital transformation, to improve public sector service delivery through strategic use of innovation, science and SMART technology.

Mr. Taylor has over 20 years of professional experience, which includes managing the Information Systems Unit in Barbados’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and its overseas missions. He also previously served as the Business Development and Operations Manager of the CTU, where he worked with regional governments in the development of policies to govern ICT and represented the region in many international ICT conferences. He also led the work to operationalise the CTU’s Caribbean Centre of Excellence, to offer consultancy services to the Member States and others.

Mr Taylor has been an advisor on Internet Governance and has published research on e-commerce diffusion in small island developing states in the Journal of Information Systems for Developing Countries. He is an Ethical Hacker and a founding member and former Chairman of the Barbados Chapter of the Internet Society, a global organisation that aims to promote the open development, evolution, and use of the Internet for the benefit of all people throughout the world.

Insights into our conversation

One of the main reasons why the Secretary-General of the CTU was invited to wrap the final episode of the year on “The Internet we should want” series is that he would be able to share a regional perspective on the issue. He did not disappoint. Moreover, the SG was quite candid about many of our shortcomings, especially regarding the structures that still need to be established or upgraded to allow all Caribbean users to leverage the internet and for our societies to fully realise the efficiencies and other benefits when the more comprehensive internet integration occurs.

Below are key questions posed to the SG during our conversation.

1. How has the landscape of the internet evolved over the past 5—10 years? And what are your thoughts on the current state of internet penetration and use in the Caribbean region, and how it compares to previous years?
2. The CTU is an important contributor to shaping the CARICOM Single ICT Space (SICTS). How important will the SICTS be in the foreseeable future? Or could it become irrelevant even before it is fully realised?
3. What do you think of the region’s digital economy? And how could Caribbean countries leverage the internet more to further develop their digital economies?
4. What impact, if any, might the Internet of Things have here in the region?
5. Privacy and data protection have been growing in importance globally over the past decade. What should we as a region want with respect to privacy and data protection?
6. What role has social media been playing in the Caribbean? And what role should social media be playing in the region?
7. How should we be moving towards the internet we say we want? How do we get to the internet we want?

We would love to hear your thoughts!

Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.

Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

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:

• Rodney Taylor
• Caribbean Telecommunication Union
• CARICOM IMPACS (Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security)
• ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 272: Expert insights update on cyber threats and security in the Caribbean, with Dale Joseph of CARICOM IMPACS
• ICT Pulse Podcast November 2024 Community Chat episode, ICTP 330: Online advertising, learning and collaboration and Digicel’s latest digital transformation report
• ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 206: We have CBDCs, but is the Caribbean ready for a regional stablecoin?
• ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 158: Creating a seamless and harmonised regional telecoms and ICT space, with Rodney Taylor, of the CTU

Images credit:  CTU;  rawpixel.com (Freepik);  yogiermansyah22 (Freepik); rawpixel.com (Freepik);

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

Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

In our latest conversation with Albert Daniels, the Senior Manager for Stakeholder Engagement for the Caribbean, we discuss some of the latest developments in the ICANN Space. Some of the areas covered include: what exactly is ICANN and why it is important; the Registration Data Request Service and the implications for law enforcement; the new generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) Program; and how Caribbean countries could benefit from this and other upcoming initiatives.

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music!!

The internet has become indispensable to everyday life. When it works well, it fades into the background and allows us to access information and resources we otherwise could not do and to be more efficient and effective when engaging in a broad range of work and personal activities. However, when the internet is not working – and I am looking at you, Flow(!) – the delicate equilibrium of our lives tends to come crashing down. Everything becomes considerably more difficult, and frustrations are high.

It can thus seem ironic that although the internet has become a crucial resource in our lives, we do not seem to be paying much attention to ongoing and emerging internet-related issues that could have an impact on how we use it. Further, many internet-related forums have adopted a multi-stakeholder approach in which internet end users can participate in the policy development process, effectively shaping how the internet evolves.

In this podcast episode, we revisit one such organisation, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and discuss some of its current areas of focus and important programmes that are coming down the pipe.

Introducing our guest

Albert Daniels joined ICANN in 2013. He is located in Saint Lucia and is a member of ICANN’s Global Stakeholder Engagement team for Latin America and the Caribbean. As the ICANN Senior Manager for Stakeholder Engagement for the Caribbean, Albert leads engagement in 32 Caribbean Territories and also leads specialised projects in the ICANN Latin American and Caribbean Regional Strategy. Albert’s responsibilities include developing and executing the organisation’s strategic and tactical objectives in the Caribbean region.

Prior to working at ICANN, Albert served as an Information Systems and Information Security Auditor and ICT Consultant at Creative Technology Solutions Limited (CTSL). He also held the position of Regional IT Manager at KPMG Eastern Caribbean, and Accounts Supervisor/IT Trainer/Group IT Director at the CHL Group in Saint Lucia. Albert served on several national Boards in Saint Lucia, and has broad internet and technology-related experience, having personally introduced the Internet to Saint Lucia in 1993. He has attended many ICANN meetings; and has been involved in the ICANN Fellowship program as one of the first fellows in 2007 and also as a fellowship mentor. Albert holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Information Technology and also specialises in Project Management at the University of Cambridge; he also holds several professional and industry certifications. Albert is fluent in English and conversant in Spanish, French, Norwegian and French Creole.

Insights into our conversation

An important takeaway from this conversation with Albert is the fact that there is never a dull moment in Internet Governance (IG). The internet is constantly evolving, and to some degree, we, the end users, are driving some of the changes that have been occurring.

Further, and in the Caribbean context, the limited collaboration and forging of relationships by our countries in other areas appears to also be evident in the IG space. For example, the Registration Data Request Service is a new facility ICANN is piloting to support law enforcement agencies worldwide, which, according to Albert, has had limited traction in the region. It thus suggests that when a cybercrime has been committed, or a network breach has occurred, Caribbean law enforcement may not be aware of resources they could access and the procedures to be followed to secure information that could further their investigations.

Below are key topics discussed during this interview.

1. What ICANN is and why it is important.
2. The Registration Data Request Service, which is currently being piloted by ICANN.
3. A Domain Name System Observatory for the Caribbean region.
4. The avenues available that could help more stakeholders participate in ICANN events and activities and participate more regularly.
5. The New generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) Program, which is being launched this month, November 2024. 
6. The Next Round Applicant Support Program
7. How the Caribbean countries (or the region as a whole) could benefit from the new gTLD Program
8. New upcoming events or activities people should have on their radar.

We would love to hear your thoughts!

Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.

Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

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:

• Albert Daniels
• Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
• ICANN Public Meetings
• ICANN Public Comment
• ICANN81 Annual General Meeting (Istanbul, Turkey, 9—14 November 2024) 
• ICANN Acronyms and Terms
• ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 021: Navigating ICANN and its relevance to the Caribbean, with Albert Daniels
• ICT Pulse article, Snapshot on the cybersecurity measures that have been implemented in the Caribbean region in 2024
• LAC-i Roadshow Caribbean Edition (Jamaica, 28—30 November 2024)
• ICANN82 Seattle Community Forum (Seattle, USA, 8—13 March 2025)

Images credit:  ICANN;  rawpixel.com (Freepik); Freepik; TheDigitalArtist (Pixabay)

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

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music!!

Whether we realise it or not, the internet is evolving. Though an early premise of an open and democratic network of networks that facilitates fair and equitable access may be true, several countervailing forces and ideologies have emerged that ultimately seek to erode that construct. Much of the success we have had to date in managing those forces has been due to the vigilance of several global and regional organisations, buttressed by the support and participation of governments, the private sector, civil society and citizens at large, to try to remain true to the ideals of the internet, whilst also supporting its evolution.

As small as the Caribbean region is, and more so the countries that make up the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), we also have a seat at the table in these global conversations on the internet, and so have the opportunity to voice our issues and concerns. However, what are our concerns and issues? And have we been able to truly capitalise on the power and capabilities of the internet? These are some of the questions we ought to be able to answer for ourselves – before we make representations to the global internet community.

The Caribbean Internet Governance Forum is the longest-running Internet Governance Forum in the world and provides Caribbean countries with the opportunity to discuss and secure regional consensus on priority Internet Governance policies and initiatives and facilitate accelerated digital transformation of the region. The upcoming Caribbean Internet Governance Forum, which will be held 21—23 August 2024, is the 20^th staging of the event and is being under the theme, Reflections, Priorities and Projections re Caribbean Internet & Digital Governance.

Introducing our guest

Nigel Cassimire is the Deputy Secretary General and Head of Regional Policy Development of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU). He is also the Coordinator of the Caribbean Internet Governance Forum.

Since July 2005, Nigel has been a Consulting Telecommunications Specialist. He has worked extensively with the CTU Secretariat in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, in developing and promoting harmonised Caribbean positions in the areas of spectrum management, internet governance, and ICT policy. He has also successfully conducted consultancies for several of the member governments of the CTU.

Nigel is a Telecommunications Engineer with over thirty years of experience in the technical, operational and executive management of telecommunications systems and services. He has an intimate understanding of a broad range of ICTs and services, with practical experience in network and service planning, operations management and domestic and international telecommunications policy development.

Insights into our conversation

To the average person, the concept of Internet Governance may seem very far removed from their everyday reality. Though that might have been true a decade ago, as the discussions would have been more focused on policy and infrastructure, with the internet permeating all areas of our lives, and being leveraged to develop and deliver a broad range of services, conversations about the impact of the internet on that average person and wider society are becoming increasing important and are being included in Internet Governance discussions. As a result, and over the past 20 years, the Internet Governance topics have not changed, but the discussions have broadened to now include non-technical issues arising from our use of the internet.

It is also important to highlight the increasing role of the United Nations (UN) in Internet Governance. Traditionally the area was managed by select non-profit, technical organisations worldwide that coordinated the participation and inclusion of a wide cross-section of stakeholders. However, with the UN getting more involved, and as a Member States organisation, there is a concern that the multi-stakeholder, bottom-up, model that has been the norm in IG circles will give way to a more top-down and politicised approach to the field.

Below are a few of the questions posed to Nigel during our conversation.

1. With the CIGF having its 20^th staging this year, and with you participating in the space for several years, how have IG and the conversations on IG evolved over the years?
2. IG can still appear to be a closed space in which a select few participate. Why should more people become involved in IG?
3. What are some of the most prominent or topical issues in the IG space currently?
4. What is the likely focus of the upcoming (20^th) CIGF?
5. Are there any key issues that the region ought to be focusing on?
6. Are any special activities being planned to commemorate the 20th CIGF?

We would love to hear your thoughts!

Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.

Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

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:

• Nigel Cassimire
• Caribbean Telecommunications Union
• 20^th Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (CIGF)
• Summit of the Future
• Global Digital Compact
• Global Forum on Cyber Expertise 
• Caribbean Internet Governance Policy Framework (version 4.0)
• Report on the 19th Caribbean Internet Governance Forum
• Latin American and Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (LACIGF)
• Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
• ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 298: Making 5G a reality in the Caribbean region, with Zlatko Zahirovic of Paradise Mobile
• ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 264: From Internet Governance to digitally enabled – an update, with Nigel Cassimire of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union
• ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 217: Comparing internet and Internet Governance challenges in the Caribbean and the South Pacific, with Maureen Hilyard and Nigel Cassimire

Images credit: CTU;  Gerd Altmann (Pixabay);  CTU;  zhang kaiyv (Pexels)

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

Podcast editing support:  Mayra Bonilla Lopez

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music!!

Have you ever asked yourself the question, “What do I want out of the internet?” It may sound like a stupid question, but the internet has become integral to almost all areas of our lives. When it is available and working well, we take it for granted. When we do not have internet connectivity, to varying degrees, we cannot function.

To an onlooker, it may seem strange that we have ceded so much of our time, and so much control of our lives, to technologies, services and platforms we access via the internet – often without giving much thought to why and the consequences inherent in those choices. However, it is never too late to start that introspection, which has been the impetus for this series of interviews on The internet we should want in 2024 and beyond.

In having conversations on the same topic with different people, we get different perspectives – none of which are wrong. Together, they provide a more holistic view of the internet, which in turn may help us to develop a more comprehensive and informed view of this tool that increasingly, we cannot live without.  

Introducing our guest

Matthew Cowen is an IT veteran who has been based in Martinique for 20 years and has over 30 years of experience in the industry. He specialises in researching the digital ecosystems of the Caribbean. He founded a boutique consultancy called dgtlfutures that helps micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) develop and implement digital transformation strategies and works closely with companies digitalising their operations chain.

Matthew is also involved in Internet Governance in the region and is an ARIN Fellow. He authors a newsletter called The Future is Digital, which you can find on his site, matthewcowen.org, along with a regularly updated blog on his current work. Matthew also teaches various tech-related subjects at the degree and master’s levels in three further education establishments in Martinique.

Insights into our conversation

One of the key reasons I invited Matthew to discuss the topic, the internet we should want, is that he has been thinking a lot about technology, its impact and its implications. Hence, early in our conversation, he opted not to focus on the ‘bright and shiny’ technology developments that tend to attract attention, but instead, sought to highlight the more practicable aspects with Caribbean users and countries in mind.

However, the internet we should want is not a simple topic. The rate of internet and technology development is so fast it is almost impossible to fully digest all that is occurring and how it relates to and affects the rest of the ecosystem. Thus, it is crucial that we proactively and regularly interrogate the technologies we are using and consider their impact on our lives and societies, which is what conversations such as these aim to do.

Below are key questions posed during our discussion with Matthew.

1. How has the landscape of the internet evolved over the past 5—10 years? And what are your thoughts on the current state of internet penetration and use in the Caribbean region, and how it compares to previous years?
2. Following from social media, what are your thoughts on the state of advertising on the Internet?
3. What are the major trends or technological advancements that are shaping the internet today?
4. What are some of the current and emerging challenges regarding the internet of which we should be more aware?
5. You are becoming more active in the Internet Governance space, which has a lot of moving parts with lots of meetings, lots of stakeholders, and lots of competing interests. What are the important IG developments that might have you concerned or that we should be aware of?
6. The internet has become integral to everyday life. What are your thoughts on how we in the Caribbean currently use the internet, versus how we should be using the internet?

We would love to hear your thoughts!

Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.

Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

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:

• Matthew Cowen  website  |  LinkedIn
• European Union report, Study on the impact of recent developments in digital advertising on privacy, publishers and advertisers
• Alliance for Affordable Internet  on Meaningful Connectivity
• International Telecommunications Union on Universal Meaningful Connectivity
• Reddit
• Mastodon
• Global Digital Compact
• Internet Society post, Protecting the Internet against Fragmentation
• Digital Freedom Fund post, Internet Drift: How the Internet is Likely to Splinter and Fracture
• New York Times, The Internet Is Broken. How Do We Fix It?
• An Open Letter to the United Nations
• ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 300: The internet we should want in 2024 and beyond, with Trevor Forrest of 876 Technology Solutions
• Barbados
• Rest of World article, Making money as an influencer in Cuba is hard. These dancers found a way
• La Monde article, France blocking TikTok in New Caledonia sets an unfortunate precedent
• BBC article, TikTok ban lifted as New Caledonia emergency ends
• The Gleaner article, Holness vows to crack down on ‘fake news’ online 
• The Gleaner article, Editorial | Regulate carefully
• ICT Pulse article, Multistakeholderism: why the Caribbean should become more involved in shaping the future stewardship of the Internet
• ICT Pulse article, Can a multistakeholder approach truly work to govern the Internet?

Image credits: M Cowen; Pete Linforth (Pixabay); Tracy Le Blanc (Pexels); wastedgeneration (Pixabay)

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

Podcast Editing Support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

With the growing popularity of social media over the past decade, there has also been increased instances of suppression and oppression by countries worldwide. Though there might not be much coverage of occurrences of suppression in the Caribbean region, in a recent report published by Access Now on internet shutdowns in 2023, Suriname was included on the list.

Access Now is a non-profit organisation focused on digital civil rights. In May 2024, it published “Shrinking Democracy, Growing Violence”, to document incidents of internet shutdowns that occurred in 2023, in an ongoing collaboration with the #KeepItOn coalition.

In 2023, 263 documented internet shutdowns were recorded, a 3.5-fold increase since the release of the first report in 2016, with the number of shutdowns increasing year-on-year. According to Access Now, internet shutdown is defined as “an intentional disruption of internet or electronic communications, rendering them inaccessible or effectively unusable, for a specific population or within a location, often to exert control over the flow of information.” In the methodology that Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition apply, a shutdown instance is any disruption event lasting longer than one hour, or a series of disruption events that can be attributed to the same or similar circumstances. As a result, the authors of the report have expressed concern that increasingly, authorities worldwide have been using internet shutdowns “as a blatant tool for enabling and exacerbating violence, war crimes, and other atrocities… to shield their actions from accountability.”

Internet shutdowns and our digital and human rights

These internet blackouts, whether partial or complete, disrupt not just our digital lives, but also our fundamental human rights. They violate the right to freedom of expression enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They silence dissent, impede the organisation of peaceful protests, and make it difficult for journalists to report on critical events. This lack of information creates a breeding ground for misinformation and fuels a climate of fear and uncertainty.

Often, the justifications offered for shutdowns lack transparency. Governments may cite security concerns or attempts to curb violence, but these reasons are frequently used to suppress dissent rather than address genuine threats. Furthermore, shutdowns are rarely targeted. They disrupt the entire online ecosystem, affecting those not involved in the events the government seeks to control.

It is also important to highlight that national security and public safety are frequently used to justify an internet ban. Typically, when national security grounds are invoked the Minister for (National) Security and/or the Head of Government can act with limited scrutiny or oversight, as many of the standard processes that typically would be followed are bypassed. However, in many instances, shutdowns done in the name of national security are often a means to oppress, silence or control others.

In the case of Suriname, there had been civil unrest and mass protests in the capital, Paramaribo, which it is understood were due to people’s dissatisfaction with the economy and the state of the country. In February 2023, there were calls for the president and vice president to resign and the authorities responded by imposing a 12-hour curfew and disrupting access to social media platforms across the country. Having instituted a curfew, which would have gotten people off the streets and could be considered a response to security concerns, why was it also necessary to disrupt access to social media, if not to control communication and suppress the flow of information both within the country and to the world outside?

Precedent and the slow degradation of our rights

Although it may have been necessary at the time, it could be argued that the restrictions and controls during the COVID-19 pandemic gave many governments an opportunity to flex muscles that they otherwise would not have exercised. We may no longer be living in the exigent circumstances of the pandemic, but over the past few years, we have seen many of our societies become more politicised with governments grappling to manage a broad range of social and economic ills.

In Jamaica, for example, where crime has been a perennial issue, violence in certain hotspots across the country has increased in recent years. To seemingly counteract this, the current Government has been regularly invoking its powers to designate certain areas Zones of Special Operation, which means “…law enforcement units are placed under the command of a military officer. Police have special powers to cordon off or impose curfews within the zone, conduct warrantless searches and seizures, and make arrests” (Source: Crisis24). However, although crime and violence may decrease in the areas where ZOSOs are declared, once the ZOSO ends, crime and violence tend to ramp back up, suggesting that while a ZOSO declaration may facilitate some degree of control, it does not solve nor improve the fundamental problems in the affected communities.

Also, although seemingly unconnected, again in Jamaica, this week, the Government announced a 12-month ban, with immediate effect, on ride-hailing transport services. The premise, the safety and security of citizens, as it was being alleged that some of the providers of those services did not have the fit and proper checks  and were operating in breach of existing laws. Additionally, some recent heinous crimes were being attributed to drivers providing transportation services via ride-sharing platforms. The Minister with responsibility for telecommunications thus wrote to the major telecommunications service providers directing them to restrict access in Jamaica to all ride-hailing applications via their network (Source:  Twitter).

In days since the Minister posted a copy of the letter he sent to Flow Jamaica on Twitter, it appears that many of the local ride-hailing services have been in contact with the requisite authorities to avert the ban, so it may seem that the announcement by the Government might have been a ploy to get parties to the table. However, the move is still disconcerting as it may still be setting a precedent and opening the door for the erosion of citizens’ rights in Jamaica under the guise of security, which unfortunately, can be very loosely defined, as other cases worldwide have shown.

Hence, moving forward, we all need to be reminded that internet access is not a privilege, it is a right. In a world that increasingly operates online, which facilitates more efficient and effective communication and engagement, the internet can also be used to implement mass control measures. We, both citizens and policymakers, need to be even more vigilant in protecting our internet access rights and consequently our human rights to ensure we, and future generations, have a more just and equitable future.

Image credit: Gerd Altmann (Pixabay)

For at least the past 15 years, especially as internet access became cheaper and more extensively deployed, there has been a growing concern about the widening digital divide. Typically, when we use the term ‘digital divide’, it refers to the gap between individuals, households, businesses, or geographic areas that have access to ICTs, such as the internet, and those that do not. Frequently, and in the first instance, the digital divide is about connectivity gaps, or an access divide, where rural areas, low-income communities, and underserved populations are often disproportionately affected by limited access to broadband networks and services, but it can also include limited access to suitable devices. However, other forms of a digital divide are:

• Usage divide, where even when individuals or communities have access, there may still be disparities in how they use technology, which may be attributed to factors such as affordability, digital literacy, language barriers, and cultural differences.
• Skills divide, which occurs when individuals possess limited digital literacy and skills, which would affect their ability to participate fully in the digital economy.
• Content divide, which can occur when there are disparities in the availability and relevance of online content, such as local language content, culturally relevant resources, or educational materials, that are tailored to the needs of specific individuals, groups or communities.
• Economic divide, which can occur when economic factors, such as the cost of internet service plans, devices, and software, can limit access for low-income individuals and families, are at play and can perpetuate the digital divide.

Generally, when a digital divide is evident, two or more of the above forms are usually at play, which in turn exacerbates its impact.

The widening divide

It should thus come as no surprise the grave concern that has been expressed about the internet connectivity challenges that have been experienced in Potaro-Siparuni region (Region 8) in Guyana. According to recent reports (see Kaieteur News and BNN), residents in that region, which in 2017 numbered just over 11,000 (Source:  UNICEF), have not had access to reliable telecoms services. Further, residents were being charged GYD 1,000.00 (or approximately USD 4.80) per hour for internet service, when in other parts of the country, around GYD 500 (or about USD 2.40) could buy one-day mobile bundle, whilst around GYD 800.00 (or about USD 3.80) can buy a three-day bundle.

To be fair, the situation in the Potaro-Siparuni region may be more severe, and the price disparity more obvious, but across the Caribbean region, most countries are still experiencing some inconsistency in telecoms service availability and/or service quality across their geographic area. However, in the circumstances where it might be easier to overlook – because it does not appear to be as dire – the digital divide is still widening.

The knock-on effect of the digital divide

Noting that the digital divide is often multifaceted, it is critical that we do not underestimate the impact it is having on our societies. Access divide is often the first focus, but since we use mobile/cellular subscription density to give insight into the connectivity level of a country, we often overlook the fact that subscription density is uneven across a country, and a wide variation tends to exist between the numbers connected in rural versus urban areas.

Additionally, the usage and skills divides tend not to get much attention. Again, we focus on subscription density, but do not appreciate the wide disparity in the quality of the devices individuals are using and the types of activities in which they are engaged. A commonly mentioned point is the extent to which Caribbean people are on social media, especially Instagram and TikTok, and consequently, the amount of time they spend. However, digital skills and usage may still be limited, which would be even more acute when access and affordability issues (the economic divide) are also present.

What can be done?

In many of the articles about the Potaro-Siparuni issue, several views were expressed about how the situation should be remedied, which tended to focus on increased accountability by the Internet Service Providers operating in that region – although noting that there might be no viable business model to provide service in that Region 8. However, there is a bigger picture that many Caribbean governments tend to overlook.

Most of our countries do not have a clear vision of where we would like to be, what we want to achieve, and consequently, what are our priorities and strategies to get there. Inclusion is often raised, but what does that mean? Who is included? And how do we ensure that none of those who should be included is left behind?

In other words, we need to be clearer about our intentions. Thereafter, we need to establish clear steps to take us from where we are to where we would like to be. As it relates to underserved communities and the widening digital divide, that is where a Universal Access/Service programme, for example, can be a critical tool, in addition to other initiatives the government might wish to support.

Ultimately, bridging the digital divide and ensuring internet connectivity in rural areas and other underserved areas is not only a matter of equity but also essential for achieving sustainable development and inclusive growth. However, we, as countries, need to be honest about digital inclusion and how we intend to address it, if we are ever to have the chance to narrow that still growing divide.

Image credit:  Discover Savsat (Unsplash)

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music!!

The Internet. Where would we be without it? However, another important question that we rarely ask is, “The internet. What are we doing with it?”

The internet has been available in the Caribbean region for almost 30 years, since the mid-1990s, but became more widely available and accessible over the past 10 years, when smartphones became more affordable, and telecoms companies began to focus their competitive energies on mobile broadband services, with more attractive offerings and cheaper prices. Increasingly, it is becoming a constant in our lives and even has been designated a basic right by the United Nations.

However, while we enjoy all that the internet facilitates, such as improved productivity, convenience, and entertainment, we often overlook the fact that the internet is a tool we can use to improve our own lives and livelihoods, and more broadly, drive the economic and social development of our countries. But, to do so successfully, we need to be intentional about it and be clear about the goals or outcomes we want to achieve.

The above is the context for this week’s podcast episode and could be the start of a continuing conversation that we need to have.

Introducing our guest

Shernon Osepa is a seasoned telecommunications and Internet Operations and Policy professional with almost 30 years of experience. Currently, he is an Independent Consultant focusing on Internet Governance, telecommunications, utility regulation, cybersecurity, and natural disaster mitigation strategies. Key areas of interest are Small Island Developing States (SIDS), economic development and renewable energy developments.

Shernon is a fervent believer that the Internet is a key instrument to foster economic and social development whereby access and trust must be promoted. Until recently he was the Director of Caribbean Affairs and Development at the Internet Society (ISOC), and before that, he was the Manager, Regional Relations Caribbean at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). He also worked as a Policy Advisor with the Telecommunications and Post, the regulatory authority in the Netherlands Antilles, and has held different positions at the incumbent telecoms operator Setel/UTS in Curaçao.

Shernon holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Professional Studies in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Professional Studies in Enschede, the Netherlands and a Master’s in Telecommunications Regulations and Policy from the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago. He is fluent in several languages including English, Spanish, Dutch, and Papiamento, and has a working understanding of French and Portuguese.

Shernon is based in Curaçao, Dutch Caribbean.

Insights into your conversation

Is the internet we should want in 2024 different from the internet we wanted in 2014? The internet of 2014 has evolved considerably, but have our expectations of the internet and the ways we could be using it, kept up with the developments that have occurred? These questions underpinned the conversation with Shernon.

As someone who has worked almost exclusively in the Caribbean region and for regional interests, Shernon has been able to develop a unique and comprehensive view of the needs, circumstances and priorities of individual countries and the region as a whole. One of Shernon’s concerns, which emerged during our conversation, is that countries are not capitalising enough on the opportunities the internet affords and shared the example of country code top-level domain names, which echoes back to the podcast episode released in late 2023 on that very topic. As was stated above in his bio, Shernon believes that the internet can be a key driver of countries’ economic and social development, especially developing countries and SIDS, but we need to be proactive and do what is required to realise that outcome.

Below are some of the questions posed during our conversation.

1. How has the landscape of the internet evolved over the past 5—10 years?
2. What are the major trends or technological advancements that are shaping the internet today?
3. What are some of the current and emerging challenges regarding the internet of which we should be more aware?
4. Across the region, we have witnessed a spate of high-profile network security breaches, which suggests, that we – as individuals, organisations and even countries – may not be as technology savvy as we should be. What are your thoughts and how might we begin to remedy this?
5. The internet has become integral to everyday life. What are your thoughts on how we in the Caribbean currently use the internet, versus how we should be using the internet?
6. Given the diversity of languages and cultures in the Caribbean, do you think we have given enough thought and action to content localization on the internet? Is it still important?
7. The issue of trust – or a lack thereof – has been hindering the development of e-commerce and even some basic fintech segments across the region. What should we want as a region?
8. From the country perspective, how have we in the Caribbean been using the internet, versus how we should be using the internet?

We would love to hear your thoughts!

Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.

Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

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:

• Shernon Osepa
• Caribbean Telecommunications Union
• ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 277:  Capitalising on Caribbean country code top-level domains with Carlton Samuels and Lance Hinds

Images credit:  Jordi Ruiz Cirera/Panos;  Gerd Altmann (Pixabay);  Mohamed Hassan (Pixabay);  Frederik Lipfert (Unsplash)

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

Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

Venue: Virtual

This meeting is intended to apprise our stakeholders of the forthcoming series of regional and international meetings taking place for the 1st quarter of 2024. We have invited partner organisations to present a brief on each meeting to encourage Caribbean representation at all major decision-making events of importance to the region.

AGENDA 

REGISTER 

Theme:  THE INTERNET WE WANT

TTIGF 2024 – REGISTER TO ATTEND

THE INTERNET WE WANT

Date: Thursday 25th & Friday 26th January 2024.

TTIGF 2024 will be held hybrid over 2 days on Thursday 25th and Friday 26th January, 2024. The theme was inspired by the UNIGF 2023 theme as an important area that needs to reach the local discussion forum for a way forward in Trinidad and Tobago’s Internet Governance.

more

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music!!

We are all familiar with domain names that end in .com, .gov, .org, and .net, to name a few, which collectively are referred to as generic top-level domains (gTLDs). Moreover, should we need a web address, often our first preference would be to secure one that uses one of those gTLD extension.

However, every country in the world has been assigned its own unique top-level domain, a country code top-level domain (ccTLD), which it controls and can use as it sees fit. Unfortunately, across the Caribbean region, and with unique exceptions, countries have made limited use of their ccTLDs, as reflected in Exhibit 1, compared with other countries worldwide.

For the record, the ccTLDs with the largest number of active domains include:

1. Germany (.de) – 16.1 million
2. United Kingdom (.uk) – 14.6 million
3. China (.cn) – 9.0 million
4. Gabon (.ga) – 7.0 million
5. The Netherlands (.nl) – 5.6 million
6. Central African Republic (.cf) – 5.4 million
7. Mali (.ml) – 5.3 million
8. Tokelau (.tk) – 5.0 million
9. Russia (.ru) – 5.0 million
10. Brazil (.br) – 4.3 million.

For populous countries with high internet development, such it Germany, the United Kingdom, China and the Netherlands, it could be argued that a large number of active domains is expected. However, Tokelau in the South Pacific has an estimated population of 1,411 (!) and has over five million active domains. Gabon has a population of about 2.3 million and over seven million active domains. Typically, registration of active domains must to be renewed annually, and may incur a fee, which has become an important source of much-needed revenue in some countries.

It thus has led us to question whether Caribbean countries – none of which is in the top 50 – have been capitalising on the opportunities that exist through their ccTLDs.

Introducing our guests

Lance Hinds is the Chief Executive Officer of the BrainStreet Group in Guyana, an IT solutions company that offers a complete range of management information and business system consulting services to governments and the private sector. He is also the Creator and Chief Technical Officer of BrainCentral, an online academic environment that helps students prepare for examinations with over 150,000 questions generating hundreds of online quizzes and practice workbooks. He has over twenty-five years of experience in the provision of professional services for the design, development and implementation of ICT solutions.

Lance is a longstanding and active participant in the global Internet Governance space. He is the former country representative on the International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Government Advisory Committee (GAC). Currently, he is the incoming Vice Chair of the Latin American and Caribbean Regional At-Large Organisation (LACRALO) at ICANN.

Carlton Samuels is an International Consultant and heads Carlton Samuels and Associates, which specialises in areas such as technology in business strategy, ICT policy development, business process re-engineering and ICT in education. He was the Chief Information Officer and University Director of IT at The University of the West Indies (UWI). He is also an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Library and Information Studies, the Faculty of Humanities and Education at the UWI in Jamaica.

Carlton has an extensive portfolio of volunteer work in the areas of ICT4D, Internet Governance and Technology in Education. He is a member of the At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) of ICANN, a foundation member and the inaugural Secretary for the Latin America and Caribbean Regional At-Large Advisory Organization (LACRALO) of ICANN and Advisory Board member for the Microsoft Partners in Learning initiative. He is a member of the Advisory Committee for the National Information Systems (ACNIS) in Jamaica, a member of ICT4D Jamaica and the Board Committee for ICT Governance for both HEART/NTA and the Scientific Research Council (SRC). Carlton has also been a member of the CARICOM ICT Task Force, a regional ICT leadership position charged with developing a cohesive ICT/Digital policy framework for Caribbean governments.

Insights into our conversation

A conversation on Caribbean ccTLDs is much needed in the region as many countries have overlooked the unique opportunities that exist and essentially, have been ‘leaving money of the table’. Lance and Carlton have been longstanding participants in the global top-level domain discussions and so shared a wealth of history and information on top-level domains, along with how and why some countries have been able to capitalise on opportunities whilst others have not.

Moreover, because most Caribbean countries have been slow to recognise the potential of top-level domains, the associated ecosystem and consequently value of our ccTLDs remain underdeveloped. However, all is not lost. Carlton and Lance share some simple remedies to get us on track and better positioned to explore the opportunities that exist.

We would love to hear your thoughts!

Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.

Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

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:

• Lance Hinds
• Carlton Samuels
• The BrainStreet Group
• International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
• Latin American and Caribbean Islands Regional At-Large Organization (LACRALO)

Images credit:  C Samuels;  L Hinds; Christoph Scholz (flickr); Freepik;  Pete Linforth (Pixabay)

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

Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez