Telecom

CONCEPT PAPER

TOWARDS THE STRATEGIC PLAN ON TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES IN THE CARICOM SINGLE MARKET AND ECONOMY (CSME)

Hopeton S. Dunn Ph.D., Director, Telecommunications Policy and Management Programme (TPM), Mona School of Business, University of the West Indies and

Michele Thomas M.Sc., ICT Policy Analyst and Research Associate, Telecommunications Policy and Management Programme(TPM), Mona School of Business, University of the West Indies

Prepared for the CARICOM Secretariat January 2009

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgements..............................................................................................................iii

Executive Summary............................................................................................................iv

Introduction..........................................................................................................................1

Overview of the Regional Telecommunications Sector....................................................3

Telecommunications Services in CARICOM: Opportunities and Threats....................7

Key Issues andChallenges..................................................................................................9

The Policy Framework......................................................................................................13

Strategic Planning 2010-2014 and Beyond......................................................................15Conclusion..........................................................................................................................20

Bibliography

Appendices Appendix 1 - Players in the CARICOM Telecommunications Market Appendix 2 - Fibre Optics Infrastructure in the Caribbean Appendix 3 - Statistics on Fixed, Mobile Teledensity, Internet and Broadband Access Appendix 4 - Some ICT Related Business Activities

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledgethe contribution the Mona School of Buisness, Digicel and Cable and Wireless/LIME, and in particular the persons who contributed to the research and development of the Concept Paper.

We acknowledge the review and editorial inputs of

Miss Allison Brown, Mr. Richardo

Williams, and Mrs. Keisha Smith of the Telecommunications Management Programme, Mona School of Business, UWI.

On December16, 2008 a special focus group discussion session was convened to brainstorm about key issues for the concept paper. Participants in that Focus Group Consultation held in Kingston, Jamaica included • • • • • • • • Moderator, Dr. Hopeton Dunn, Director, Telecommunications Management Programme, Mona School of Business, UWI. Mrs. Camille Facey, Vice President, Legal and Regulatory Affairs, Cable andWireless /LIME Ms. Helga McIntyre, Legal and Regulatory Manager, Digicel Miss Ida-Gaye Warburton, Legal Officer, Spectrum Management Authority Mr. Richardo Williams, Research Technologist, Telecommunications Management Programme, Mona School of Business, UWI. Miss Allison Brown, Research Assistant, Telecommunications Management Programme, Mona School of Business, UWI. Mr. Dwayne Fagan, ProjectAnalyst, Mona School of Business, UWI. Mrs. Michele Thomas, ICT Policy Analyst and Research Associate, Telecommunications Management Programme, Mona School of Business, UWI.

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Executive Summary The Caribbean economy, consisting of a diverse range of developing countries, operates within a highly information-based global economy. The vulnerabilities of the regional economies include highexposure to natural hazards such as frequent hurricanes, global economic fluctuations, traditional primary agricultural production and limited intra-regional trade, all frequently reflected in poor economic performance and external dependence. Recognizing the importance of harmonization, the Caribbean Single Market and Economy seeks to transform the vulnerabilities of individual countries into the...