Confronting the Caribbean Digital Divide: Broadband Investment, Big Tech, and Policy Responses

Roslyn Layton, Petrus H. Potgieter and Kwesi Prescod

33rd European Regional ITS Conference, Edinburgh, 2025: Digital innovation and transformation in uncertain times from International Telecommunications Society (ITS)

Abstract: This paper investigates the persistent digital divide in the Caribbean, where approximately 46% of the population lacks access to 5G, and only 1.9 million households benefit from fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) connectivity. The study identifies factors contributing to inadequate broadband deployment, including geographic challenges, insufficient investment, and regulatory barriers. Drawing on a comprehensive survey of broadband providers across 21 Caribbean nations, the research reveals significant investment gaps, estimating costs of USD $8.6 to $12.9 billion to achieve universal FTTH and 5G access. The paper critically analyzes market dynamics between broadband and major content providers, highlighting a lack of equitable cost-sharing mechanisms and inadequate regulatory frameworks. It advocates for policy interventions and innovative business models to stimulate infrastructure investments, suggesting that collaborative approaches, possibly inspired by models in South Korea and the US, could foster sustainable digital inclusion, economic growth, and social development, particularly benefiting marginalized and rural communities.

Date: 2025
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