Rural Connectivity and Energy for ICT in Jamaica

Information regarding the availability and cost of Internet access had not been gathered in any systematic way before in Jamaica and, during the course of the study, six underserved areas were identified.

The findings of the study were published in a 18-page report entitled ‘Rural Connectivity and Energy for ICT: Jamaica Country Report’. The report begins with an historical perspective into the growth of the Internet in Jamaica and goes on to examine the country’s regulatory framework and general levels of Internet access. Critical issues affecting rural connectivity are explored, along with prospects for improving connectivity in the rural areas and current plans to achieve this, ICT policy processes and their effects on rural connectivity, and rural energy issues.

In continuing the process of monitoring the rural connectivity status of Jamaica it is hoped that, in future, local Internet Service Providers will be more cooperative about making the salient information available. The absence of this cooperation by some of the major players proved to be the biggest challenge for the study. Notwithstanding this, the report contains a comprehensive overview of Internet Service Providers in Jamaica and the services they offer, as well as a list of Internet services available in Jamaica, an overview of the energy consumption required for ICT applications, and contact details of the main expertise centres for alternative energy.