KINGSTON Jamaica April 6TH, 2011 - LIME, the Caribbean’s only full service telecoms provider, today signed a five-year agreement with the Government of Jamaica, valued at more than US $3.7 million, to build out a major portion of the broadband island-wide network which will provide internet connectivity to public schools, libraries, post offices and other locations across Jamaica.
The island-wide broadband network, which will increase public internet access significantly, is being financed through the Universal Service Obligation (USO) levy which gives the Jamaican Government revenue from charges for incoming international calls. The levy is managed by the Universal Access Fund Company Ltd. The network will provide high speed connectivity throughout the country, eventually bringing even the most remote locations online.
Speaking at the agreement signing, which was held at the Office of the Prime Minister, Managing Director for LIME in Jamaica & Cayman, Garry Sinclair said: “This project, involves two major areas where LIME has been working tirelessly to make a difference – the infusion of ICT in Education and the increasing of access to ICT to the general population in order to bridge the digital divide within Jamaica and the digital divide between the Jamaica and more developed nations.”
He added, “So while all of us at LIME are excited about the commercial side of this project, the real thrill is that we will be part of an initiative that will be a critical catalyst in the development of our country.”
Jamaica’s Minister with responsibility for Telecommunications, Daryl Vaz said:
“Internet service is a critical and important ingredient in national advancement and economic development and therefore we have developed and are pursuing deliberate strategies for accelerating the deployment of high-speed connectivity throughout the length and breadth of the country.”
Managing Director of the Universal Access Fund Company Limited, Hugh Cross said: “We are fully aware of the correlation between growth in Gross Domestic Product and access to the Internet. The World Bank has indicated that for every 10% increase in high speed Internet connections the increase in economic growth is 1.3%. We are committed to pursuing every available strategy to grow the national economy and this island-wide broadband initiative is consistent with that objective.”
Through its Foundation, LIME Jamaica has been providing free internet access to primary and secondary schools islandwide for the past six years. At present, more than 300 schools are benefiting from this programme.
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