{"id":755,"date":"2011-05-16T21:39:15","date_gmt":"2011-05-17T02:39:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ict-pulse.com\/?p=755"},"modified":"2011-05-17T10:36:17","modified_gmt":"2011-05-17T15:36:17","slug":"snapshot-how-affordable-is-mobile-service-in-the-caribbean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2011\/05\/snapshot-how-affordable-is-mobile-service-in-the-caribbean\/","title":{"rendered":"Snapshot: How affordable is mobile service in the Caribbean?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In an earlier post, we examined the amount spent on mobile\/cellular service in the Caribbean. Now, continuing with the Snapshot series, we look at the affordability of that service across the region.<\/em><\/p>\n

The development and expansion of telecoms in the region in recent years has been driven, for the most part, by the introduction of lower cost mobile\/cellular services. Thanks to their intensive rollout, there has been nearly ubiquitous take-up and use in the English-speaking Caribbean.<\/p>\n

Mobile phones have therefore become an extension of the individual and are even seen as status symbols. However, although there is high penetration of the service, and mobile companies operating in the region are thought to be profitable, there is growing concern that consumers are struggling to maintain their subscriptions. Luckily, prepaid plans are the preferred option in the region. They provide greater budgetary control since service is paid for upfront. Nevertheless, to maintain this service, users might be sacrificing other basic needs.<\/p>\n

Methodology<\/h3>\n

In an earlier instalment of this series, Snapshot: How much do we spend on mobile service across the Caribbean?<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/span>, we determined how much is being spent across the English-speaking Caribbean for different baskets of mobile services. These baskets, which were based on the\u00a0Revised OECD Telecommunications Price Comparison Methodology (2006)<\/a><\/span><\/em>,<\/span><\/span> specified three category of mobile user based on the volume of voice calls, text and multimedia messages made within a year (Table 1).<\/p>\n

.<\/p>\n\n<\/col>\n<\/col>\n<\/col>\n<\/col>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Service \t\t\tbasket<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nVoice\/year<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nSMS\/year<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nMMS\/year<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Low \t\t\tVolume (LV)<\/span><\/td>\n360<\/span><\/td>\n396<\/span><\/td>\n8<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Medium \t\t\tVolume (MV)<\/span><\/td>\n780<\/span><\/td>\n600<\/span><\/td>\n8<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
High \t\t\tVolume (HV)<\/span><\/td>\n1680<\/span><\/td>\n660<\/span><\/td>\n12<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Table 1: <\/strong><\/span>Service baskets used in mobile spend and affordability calculations (OECD)<\/span><\/p>\n

The key results of the mobile spend exercise are summarised below.\u00a0Across the English-speaking Caribbean:<\/p>\n