Broadband is the key to experiencing Internet services and the World Wide Web. Put simply, broadband has become an expectation of both businesses and citizens around much of the globe. No longer are narrowband connections, phone lines and 56K modems being used to connect to the Internet, explore the web, and interact with others. Instead, many of today’s Internet experiences are designed with the expectation that users will access thisrich content using broadband. This article examines the current state of Broadband in the Caribbean.

1. Benefits of Broadband
Internet: Narrowing
the Digital Divide in
the Caribbean
By Jennifer Marron
Marketing & Communications Specialist
WireIE Holdings International Inc.
April 2010
The Broadband Internet Gap 1

2. Benefits of Broadband Internet:
Narrowing the Digital Divide in the
Caribbean
By Jennifer Marron
Marketing & Communications Specialist
WireIE Holdings International Inc.
B roadband is the key to experiencing
Internet services and the World Wide
Web as most of us in the developed world
preventing residents of the Caribbean from
enjoying a better quality of life. Many areas
of the Caribbean are unable to access
currently do. Put simply, broadband has broadband Internet, and so they are missing
become an expectation of both businesses out on the enormous capabilities afforded
and citizens around much of the globe. No by the World Wide Web.
longer are narrowband connections, phone
lines and 56K modems being used to Broadband Essential to Economy
connect to the Internet, explore the web, It has also been proven that broadband
and interact with others. Instead, many of access improves Gross Domestic Product
today’s Internet experiences are
designed with the expectation that users
will access this rich content using
broadband.
Caribbean behind in Broadband
Currently, much of the Caribbean is not
capable of supporting the rich broadband
experience the rest of us take for
granted. Legacy networks and
infrastructure are preventing the
Caribbean from achieving its maximum
potential for business. It is time to
narrow the digital divide.
This divide is a result of social and
economic inequalities within and
between various countries, and it is
The Broadband Internet Gap 2

3. (GDP) of countries that use it. Both the become an adopted standard for all services
quality of life and the economy of a region and applications on the web.
improve when informed societies are able to Broadband also provides more networking
use broadband Internet, as it enables capability than ‘traditional’ dial-up
increased productivity and information connections. Wireless technologies can help
sharing, among other benefits. to greatly reduce the infrastructure costs for
One of the greatest and sparsely populated, rural,
most obvious advantages or remote areas. A primary
of broadband Internet is Broadband can benefit of broadband is its
the sheer speed of the ability to expand economic
technology. Broadband contribute hundreds opportunities and
access is defined as an of billions of dollars a innovation, increase trade
Internet connection that and productivity, reduce
is capable of handling the year to the GDP of business costs, create jobs
simultaneous developing countries and encourage foreign
transmission of investment.
sophisticated Recently, quantitative
applications. These connections are research and empirical analysis have
exponentially faster than dial-up or emerged to firmly establish the fact that
narrowband connections, and in some cases
broadband networks support GDP growth in
can be up to 40 times as fast. This allows for developed nations and have the potential to
a richer web experience. offer similar benefits in developing or
Broadband networks, supported by the emerging markets. In short, broadband
Internet Protocol (IP), have the capability to provides the ability to create wealth.
transport any information or service we A study by The United Nations Conference
usually associate with the web. Already, on Trade and Development called
broadband networks are widely considered Information Economy Report 2006 found
essential infrastructure for the global that broadband directly boosts
information economy, providing businesses, competitiveness and productivity, and could
students and consumers with fast, ‘always- contribute hundreds of billions of dollars a
on’ access to Internet-based services, year to the GDP of developing countries in
content and applications. upcoming years. According to the report,
In fact, today’s web is designed around broadband has become so vital to
broadband, which is needed in order to use companies, and society at large, that it is
rich experiences such as Internet Protocol being compared to ‘essential’ utilities such
Television (IPTV), high definition video, and as water and electricity.
other multimedia resources. Today, IP has
The Broadband Internet Gap 3

4. Furthermore, it has been shown that service exports through foreign affiliates. It
countries with rudimentary offers regions the ability to boost economic
telecommunications systems generally find opportunities through increased trade and
themselves at a lower level of economic productivity, reduced costs, job creation,
development. The report states, “Broadband and greater foreign investment.
increases the capacity of enterprises to Of course, broadband also provides a better
engage in more sophisticated e-business quality of life for people who can access it.
processes and deliver through the Internet, Individuals have greater access to health
thus maximizing the benefits of Information care and education through improved
Communication Technologies (ICT’s)”. Internet access. Students are introduced to
Broadband permits companies to engage in the technology necessary to succeed in the
more sophisticated e-business processes, as global economy, today and in the future.
well as delivering a greater range of
products and services. Governments in the Caribbean need support
to implement and harness broadband
Caribbean needs Broadband to networks as essential infrastructure.
compete globally Broadband networks bring more citizens and
Broadband Internet businesses from rural and
access will narrow the remote areas into the
digital divide and enable formal economy of a
Caribbean enterprises to
Broadband will nation, and in fact, the
world. Social issues such as
become more improve living health and education gain
competitive with the rest
of the business world on
standards in the a platform through
broadband—for example,
a global scale. Broadband Caribbean voices can be heard
realizes the potential
business productivity to through rich media such as
be gained social media websites,
blogs and online video.
from e-commerce, improved retail efficiency
through e-business web services, enhanced Broadband will also allow for the growth of a
supply co-ordination and management sense of community, as regions of the
efficiency, as well as the cost-saving benefits Caribbean that are now geographically
of telecommuting, among others. remote or rural become exposed to
technology. The spread of broadband
Broadband also aids in accelerating networks allows for an informed society and
productivity growth, which is essential for improves the quality of life for all,
higher income and generating new economically and socially.
employment opportunities, and boosting
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5. Without question, broadband will improve
living standards in the Caribbean. New and
efficient technologies have the capacity to
facilitate changes in economic structures for
the positive—economies of scale push
infrastructure costs down. The Internet is
the most empowering communication tool
ever devised, and fortunately, the cost of
broadband technologies continues to
decrease.
WireIE Solution
Today, broadband connectivity can be
provided to remote regions using a
combination of backhaul and last-mile
networks. WiMAX and Wi-Fi technologies
can reach remote regions and can be rolled
out faster than wired solutions, as well as
offering portability and mobility. WireIE can
add value to both carriers and governments.
We offer turnkey solutions in the design,
deployment and, where appropriate,
management of public and private
broadband networks. WireIE is a global
leader in providing professional services and
innovative solutions, including migrating
legacy networks to the next generation, and
creating new networks based on Next
Generation broadband solutions.
To comment on this article, please visit
WireIE’s blog at
http://www.wireie.com/blog.
The Broadband Internet Gap 5

6. What can we do for you?
At WireIE, we have the expertise to identify and understand your unique challenges. We have
the knowledge, experience and resources to create, build, deploy and maintain the latest in
wireless network solutions. We are the industry's brightest and best and we're prepared to
ensure success in your Next Generation Network solution. Let's start the conversation.
Rob Barlow
President and CEO
WireIE
rob.barlow@wireie.com
Tel: +1.905.882.4660
Fax: +1.905.882.0223
www.WireIE.com
WireIE
35 Leek Crescent,
Floor 2,
Richmond Hill, Ontario CANADA L4B 4C2
Visit our Resource Centre to download our white papers and presentations:
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Join the dialogue on our blog:
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