![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fgd.dfv.mybluehost.me\/.website_c81a1e61\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/List-of-CaribbeanCARICOM-countries-included-in-2022-fixed-broadband-Internet-survey.jpg?resize=640%2C220&ssl=1\")
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The previous review of fixed broadband internet rates was conducted in late 2019 and early 2020. In addition to presenting the new findings, we will compare some of the 2022 results with those recorded in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Methodology<\/h2>\n\n\n\nSimilar to previous iterations of the exercise, the data collected was presented in the four key ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- the average cost of a broadband plan per month<\/li>
- the cost of the cheapest plan in each country per month<\/li>
- the most expensive plan available, and<\/li>
- the cost of 1 Megabit per second (Mbps) of bandwidth for one month.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
The Cable provides a detail account of the methodology employed, however, outlined below are some of the key points:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- All prices gathered were for fixed-line broadband plans that were delivered either ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) or some form of fibre<\/li>
- Only consumer\/domestic broadband plans were included. Business\/enterprise broadband deals were excluded<\/li>
- The prices of the broadband plans were recorded in their advertised currency, then converted to US Dollars (USD) in order to form a basis for comparison.<\/li>
- In order to determine the average cost of a fixed broadband plan for each country, the median prices of all plans recorded is used, and that price included any upfront or ongoing monthly costs<\/li>
- In order to determine the average cost of fixed-line broadband (per megabit per month, the cost per megabit for each plan was calculated by dividing the cost by the speed offered in megabits per second. Then the median cost was determined.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Results: Average price of a broadband internet plan per month<\/h2>\n\n\n\nAcross the Caribbean countries surveyed, there is a wide variance in the average price of a broadband internet plans, as shown in Exhibit 2. The lowest average price was recorded in Cuba, at USD 21.68, whilst the highest was recorded in the British Virgin Islands, at USD 184.00. Across the region, the median price was USD 62.58.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fgd.dfv.mybluehost.me\/.website_c81a1e61\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Average-price-of-a-broadband-plan-per-month-in-USD-in-select-Caribbean-countries-as-at-March-2022-Source-The-Cable.jpg?resize=1024%2C632&ssl=1\")
Exhibit 2: Average price of a fixed-line broadband plan per month in USD in select Caribbean countries, as at March 2022 (Source: The Cable)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It should be noted that Cuba, which is new addition to this year\u2019s exercise, was ranked 46th out of the 220 countries sampled, whilst the British Virgin Islands was ranked 217th, a drop of 18 places, as it was ranked 199th in 2020. The top 10 countries globally were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Syria (USD 2.15)<\/li>
- Sudan (USD 4.80)<\/li>
- Belarus (USD 7.39)<\/li>
- Ukraine (USD 7.40)<\/li>
- Russian Federation (USD 8.07)<\/li>
- Moldova (USD 8.21)<\/li>
- Mongolia (USD 8.80)<\/li>
- Romania (USD 9.00)<\/li>
- Turkey (USD 9.32)<\/li>
- Kazakhstan (USD 9.46)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Results: Price of the cheapest and most expensive plan in each country per month<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In comparing the cheapest and most expensive broadband Internet plans, which is presented in Exhibit 3, it is readily evident that there is a wide disparity in the rates in most countries and across the Caribbean region. It should be noted that in the case of Suriname, the most expensive plan has been omitted from the graph, as is five time more expensive than the second most expensive plan (at USD 2,806.95!) and so unduly skews the graph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fgd.dfv.mybluehost.me\/.website_c81a1e61\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Cheapest-and-most-expensive-fixed-broadband-plan-in-select-Caribbean-countries-March-2022-Source-The-Cable.jpg?resize=1024%2C678&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The greatest variation in fixed broadband Internet prices were recorded in the Suriname (USD 2,795.93), the Cayman Islands (USD 397.39), Haiti and the British Virgin Islands (USD 389.19 and USD 389.00, respectively). On the other hand, the smallest variation in prices were recorded in Saint Martin and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (USD 0.00), Martinique (USD 9.91), and Guadeloupe (USD 16.69).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Results: Average price of 1 Mbps of bandwidth for one month<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The average price per Mbps may be the most insightful of all of the assessments conducted, as it allows for more precise comparison of fixed-line broadband rates across the countries examined. In the Caribbean region, and as reflected in Exhibit 4, the lowest average price per Mbps was recorded in Saint Martin, at USD 0.04 per Mbps, which was followed by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (USD 0.18 per Mbps), Saint Barth\u00e9lemy (USD 0.20 per Mbps) and Barbados (USD 0.35 per Mbps).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fgd.dfv.mybluehost.me\/.website_c81a1e61\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Price-per-Mbps-of-broadband-Internet-service-in-select-Caribbean-countries-as-at-March-2022-Source-The-Cable.jpg?resize=1024%2C706&ssl=1\")
Exhibit 4: Price per Mbps of fixed-line broadband Internet service in select Caribbean countries, as at March 2022 (Source: The Cable)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the other end of the spectrum, the highest average price for fixed-line broadband Internet was recorded in Cuba, at USD 14.36. Following Cuba with a relatively high average prices per Mbps were: Sint Maarten (USD 6.29); Haiti (USD 4.89); and Suriname (USD 3.91).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some thoughts on the findings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The findings published by The Cable on broadband internet plans is always welcomed, as increasingly, it has become a challenge to collate the requisite data, as it is not always published online or publicly available. However, details of the plans, such as advertised transmission speeds and other features of the plans are not included by The Cable, and so the types of comparisons that can be made is limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having said this, and to get sense of how prices have changed since 2020, it can be instructive to examine the average price per Mbps, the results of which is shown in Exhibit 5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fgd.dfv.mybluehost.me\/.website_c81a1e61\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Difference-in-the-average-price-per-Mbps-of-broadband-Internet-service-in-Caribbean-in-2020-and-2022-Source-The-Cable.jpg?resize=1024%2C592&ssl=1\")
Exhibit 5: Difference in the average price per Mbps of fixed-line broadband Internet service in select Caribbean countries, in 2020 and 2022 (Source: The Cable)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of the 31 Caribbean countries included, 25 recorded a decrease in their average price per Mbps, which ranged between 1.2% in Grenada, to 97.3% in Montserrat. Dominica did not record an change in its average per Mbps price, whilst in increasing order, Aruba (8.1%), Martinique (19.7%), the United States Virgin Islands (39.7%) and Suriname (293.8%), all recorded an increase in their average per Mbps price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In summary, and although most Caribbean countries experienced a decrease in their average price per Mbps, the price of fixed-line broadband internet plans in the region are still high when compared globally. With the exception of Cuba, no other Caribbean country was in the top 50 worldwide, and only five, were ranked in the top 100 \u2013 Cuba (46th), Grenada (84th), Jamaica (86th), the Dominican Republic (96th), and Guyana (99th) \u2013 which arguably is surprising, as it would have been expected that more Caribbean countries should have been in top half of the listing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Image credit: Freepik<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Cable provides a detail account of the methodology employed, however, outlined below are some of the key points:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- All prices gathered were for fixed-line broadband plans that were delivered either ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) or some form of fibre<\/li>
- Only consumer\/domestic broadband plans were included. Business\/enterprise broadband deals were excluded<\/li>
- The prices of the broadband plans were recorded in their advertised currency, then converted to US Dollars (USD) in order to form a basis for comparison.<\/li>
- In order to determine the average cost of a fixed broadband plan for each country, the median prices of all plans recorded is used, and that price included any upfront or ongoing monthly costs<\/li>
- In order to determine the average cost of fixed-line broadband (per megabit per month, the cost per megabit for each plan was calculated by dividing the cost by the speed offered in megabits per second. Then the median cost was determined.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Results: Average price of a broadband internet plan per month<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Across the Caribbean countries surveyed, there is a wide variance in the average price of a broadband internet plans, as shown in Exhibit 2. The lowest average price was recorded in Cuba, at USD 21.68, whilst the highest was recorded in the British Virgin Islands, at USD 184.00. Across the region, the median price was USD 62.58.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Exhibit 2: Average price of a fixed-line broadband plan per month in USD in select Caribbean countries, as at March 2022 (Source: The Cable)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It should be noted that Cuba, which is new addition to this year\u2019s exercise, was ranked 46th out of the 220 countries sampled, whilst the British Virgin Islands was ranked 217th, a drop of 18 places, as it was ranked 199th in 2020. The top 10 countries globally were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Syria (USD 2.15)<\/li>
- Sudan (USD 4.80)<\/li>
- Belarus (USD 7.39)<\/li>
- Ukraine (USD 7.40)<\/li>
- Russian Federation (USD 8.07)<\/li>
- Moldova (USD 8.21)<\/li>
- Mongolia (USD 8.80)<\/li>
- Romania (USD 9.00)<\/li>
- Turkey (USD 9.32)<\/li>
- Kazakhstan (USD 9.46)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Results: Price of the cheapest and most expensive plan in each country per month<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In comparing the cheapest and most expensive broadband Internet plans, which is presented in Exhibit 3, it is readily evident that there is a wide disparity in the rates in most countries and across the Caribbean region. It should be noted that in the case of Suriname, the most expensive plan has been omitted from the graph, as is five time more expensive than the second most expensive plan (at USD 2,806.95!) and so unduly skews the graph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The greatest variation in fixed broadband Internet prices were recorded in the Suriname (USD 2,795.93), the Cayman Islands (USD 397.39), Haiti and the British Virgin Islands (USD 389.19 and USD 389.00, respectively). On the other hand, the smallest variation in prices were recorded in Saint Martin and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (USD 0.00), Martinique (USD 9.91), and Guadeloupe (USD 16.69).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Results: Average price of 1 Mbps of bandwidth for one month<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The average price per Mbps may be the most insightful of all of the assessments conducted, as it allows for more precise comparison of fixed-line broadband rates across the countries examined. In the Caribbean region, and as reflected in Exhibit 4, the lowest average price per Mbps was recorded in Saint Martin, at USD 0.04 per Mbps, which was followed by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (USD 0.18 per Mbps), Saint Barth\u00e9lemy (USD 0.20 per Mbps) and Barbados (USD 0.35 per Mbps).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Exhibit 4: Price per Mbps of fixed-line broadband Internet service in select Caribbean countries, as at March 2022 (Source: The Cable)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the other end of the spectrum, the highest average price for fixed-line broadband Internet was recorded in Cuba, at USD 14.36. Following Cuba with a relatively high average prices per Mbps were: Sint Maarten (USD 6.29); Haiti (USD 4.89); and Suriname (USD 3.91).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some thoughts on the findings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The findings published by The Cable on broadband internet plans is always welcomed, as increasingly, it has become a challenge to collate the requisite data, as it is not always published online or publicly available. However, details of the plans, such as advertised transmission speeds and other features of the plans are not included by The Cable, and so the types of comparisons that can be made is limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having said this, and to get sense of how prices have changed since 2020, it can be instructive to examine the average price per Mbps, the results of which is shown in Exhibit 5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Exhibit 5: Difference in the average price per Mbps of fixed-line broadband Internet service in select Caribbean countries, in 2020 and 2022 (Source: The Cable)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of the 31 Caribbean countries included, 25 recorded a decrease in their average price per Mbps, which ranged between 1.2% in Grenada, to 97.3% in Montserrat. Dominica did not record an change in its average per Mbps price, whilst in increasing order, Aruba (8.1%), Martinique (19.7%), the United States Virgin Islands (39.7%) and Suriname (293.8%), all recorded an increase in their average per Mbps price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In summary, and although most Caribbean countries experienced a decrease in their average price per Mbps, the price of fixed-line broadband internet plans in the region are still high when compared globally. With the exception of Cuba, no other Caribbean country was in the top 50 worldwide, and only five, were ranked in the top 100 \u2013 Cuba (46th), Grenada (84th), Jamaica (86th), the Dominican Republic (96th), and Guyana (99th) \u2013 which arguably is surprising, as it would have been expected that more Caribbean countries should have been in top half of the listing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Image credit: Freepik<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n