Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) play a vital role in the individual and cooperative lives of citizens. In some environments, though a scarce commodity in many developing countries, it is expected to fuel the economic growth and service delivery to the populace. The collection of statistical data to measure such growth and impact on the economy and development of the country is very essential. Jamaica has recognized this fact and as such developed an ICT Sector Plan as part of Vision 2030, which outlines a comprehensive development plan for Jamaica.

There are approximately 16.2 million  people distributed across the member countries and associate states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Jamaica has the second highest population with approximately 2.7 million  people in the Caribbean.

The last twenty years demonstrated an exponential growth in the access to and use of ICTs. Based on current trends, it will be interesting to see the development of ICTs over the next decade. Many countries and businesses have been transformed during this period and are still innovating and re-engineering as ICTs continue to advance. Over the last decade, Jamaica has gone through a transformation of its telecommunications industry with the telecommunications sector liberalized in 2000. A monopoly which existed for several years was removed and the industry became more liberal through the revision of existing legislations.

Telecommunications in Jamaica have emerged as an important Sector in the economy over the past decade. The change in the legislative environment resulted in the removal of the monopoly in the telecoms service and contributed to the expansion of the Sector. Prior to this change, earlier modes of communication including telex, telegraph, and landline telephony predominated and were mainly concentrated in urban areas. While some service was available in the rural areas it was largely unaffordable and accessibility was limited.

Jamaica ranks 149 out of 242 countries for the amount of ISPs available in their country.

This entry lists the number of Internet hosts available within a country. An Internet host is a computer connected directly to the Internet; normally an Internet Service Provider's (ISP) computer is a host. Internet users may use either a hard-wired terminal, at an institution with a mainframe computer connected directly to the Internet, or may connect remotely by way of a modem via telephone line, cable, or satellite to the Internet Service Provider's host computer. The number of hosts is one indicator of the extent of Internet connectivity.

Internet Hosts

Country                   2003         2005         2006         2008      2010  

Jamaica                 1,480       1,271       1,402       1,292       3,897  

Jamaica has some of the required infrastructure for economic growth, abundant supply of potable water, a reliable electricity supply, and advanced telecommunications networks. The telecommunications sector, which is regulated by the Office of Utilities Regulation, was liberalized in April 2000 with the promulgation of a new Telecommunications Act. The first segments to be liberalized were the mobile and Internet segments. Since liberalization, the telecommunications sector has been the fastest growing sector in Jamaica. Data from the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) reveals that approximately US$80.9 million per annum or 12% of total FDI flows is spent on ICT related infrastructure. The country’s ICT exports include value-added products such as computer-assisted designs at the high end to call centres at the low end.

Prior to August 2011, the Jamaican mobile landscape was one of the most vibrant in the Caribbean with three (3) mobile providers in the incumbent Cable & Wireless Jamaica Ltd (LIME), Digicel Jamaica Ltd (Digicel) and Oceanic Digital Jamaica Ltd (Claro). The three players provided services to an estimated population of 2.86 million people with an estimated subscriber base of 3.14 million. In August 2011, the number of players in the mobile market was reduced to two (2) with the acquisition of Oceanic Digital Jamaica Ltd by Digicel. Currently, the country boasts a mobile penetration rate of 116.38%.

The Internet segment lags behind the mobile and the fixed segments. At the end of 2011 there were over 87 licensed ISPs, of which less than 10% were operational. The main providers are: LIME providing services via dial-up, ADSL and mobile broadband; Digicel providing services via mobile broadband and WiMax; and FLOW providing services via cable modem. A 2011 Study by the Telecommunications Policy and Management Programme at the Mona School of Business revealed that the ICT sector is characterized by relatively low adoption and use rates with respect to computers and the Internet in general. This they found was due mainly to the high prices for computers and Internet access. Only 15.6% of the population had access to the Internet at home compared to the corresponding global figure of 30%. The country’s fixed broadband penetration rate is just over 3%.

As of 2012
Fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants     9.6
Mobile-cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants     96.3
Fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants      96.3
Mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants     1.6
Households with a computer (%)     32.6
Households with Internet access at home (%)     23
Individuals using the Internet (%)     46.5

For a nation where half of all income depends on tourism and related services, diversifying can be a daunting task. But Jamaicans are discovering that the same technology that type-casts them offers a universe of employment and business opportunities, without the geographic and economic limitations of the island.

Let's call it Jamaica 2.0. In tandem with governments, the private sector and international organizations, Jamaica and other Caribbean nations are working to ensure that home-grown talent fulfills its potential in the virtual economy.

The region hopes to become a technology hub like that of Silicon Valley or Bangalore. It plans to provide services to the virtual economy through the development of smartphone applications, technical assistance (through call centers, for example) and even more daring proposals, such as digital animation.
   

Cost and Quality of ICT Networks - Stage 3

There are many different affordable options to their customers. Their website has so much to offer, that it is too much to clearly post on our site. Below are some of the rate tables, but for more comprehensive information, please go to their website. They are comparable to our options here in the US as far as costs.

Digicel offers Digicel Flex which is a prepaid service

There are no bills, no rental and no connection fee, you simply pay as you go. With denominations of $108, $120, $200, $300, $500 and $1000 available as a top-up option, you’ll always have control over how much you spend.

Digicel also offers a 4G prepaid data and regular price plans that can be looked at here.

In addition to the above personal options, Digicel also offers Business Solutions to small, medium, large and government businesses.  They can provide ICT service, 4G and GSM Mobile service and Cloud services.  Costs vary, but are competitive with LIME.  http://www.digicelbusiness.com/jamaica/

Service and Support – Stage 3

The two popular cellular and internet providers in Jamaica are Digicel and LIME .  Below you can read a comprehensive review on both providers. Digicel Jamaica is Jamaica’s # 1 cellular provider, followed by LIME.

Digicel Jamaica

Digicel Group Limited provides mobile telecommunications services in the Caribbean, Central America, and the Asia-Pacific. It offers online top up solutions for users to send call credit to family and friends or to their own cell phone from anywhere in the world; roaming services; and communication and ICT solutions for small and medium businesses, large enterprises, and government customers. The company also provides network services, such as Blackbery enterprise, business voice solution, dedicated Internet access, domestic private line, international private line, MPLS global connect, fixed voice, and GSM gateway services; and managed services, including data centre co-location, M2M vehicle, M2M smart metering, M2M security, M2M connectivity, and voice conferencing services. In addition, it offers enterprise solutions, such as unified communications, advanced networking, integrated IP security, and structured cabling solutions; cloud services, including cloud telephony, hosted email exchange, desktop as a service, disaster recovery, and mobile device management services; and 4G and LTE solutions.

The company was founded in 2000 and is based in Kingston, Jamaica. It has operations in Turks and Caicos, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Haiti, Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Curacao, Aruba, Bonaire, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, St. Martin, St. Barts, and French Guiana.

LIME Jamaica 

    L for Landline, I for Internet, M for Mobile and E for Entertainment. LIME Jamaica is the second largest provider of cell phones in Jamaica and is the Caribbean’s leading Communications Company which offers an innovative approach to telecommunications for the Caribbean. LIME is part of the CWI Group of companies.

Their mission: To understand and deliver to our governments, businesses, and families.
Their vision: Always working to improve life in the Caribbean.
Their promise: Building, connecting and serving our communities.

The company stands on one single principle. The promise that they use international credentials to bring the best technologies to the region and put together products and services that make individuals in the Caribbean lives better. LIME also promises to deliver first class service and the great communication solutions across the board – from landline to mobile and from broadband to TV and entertainment.

For executive and enterprise customers, LIME offers a complete communication solution, which aid in solving genuine business issues. From price reduction to customer attainment, the company makes it possible for growth. LIME works assiduously to make it better for regions in the Caribbean. The LIME Green campaign which will decrease carbon footprint will allow each child in each of our markets to have access to a computer with an internet connection and in return they will have access to a world of education.