Push for digital infrastructure to match tourism investment

The Caribbean must invest in digital infrastructure with the same urgency and coordination it brings to tourism, according to Giovanni King, chair of the Caribbean Data Centre Association.

 

Speaking at a Small Business Association (SBA) virtual forum titled Business in the Age of Gen AI on Tuesday, King urged regional governments to treat data gateways like airports – shared, neutral and essential to economic growth.

 

He noted that Caribbean states routinely invest in airports, airlift, hotels and entertainment to support tourism, and argued that similar attention should be paid to the digital economy.

 

King drew parallels between the two sectors, explaining that cable landing stations – the entry points for Internet data – play a role as critical to digital services as airports do for tourism. These gateways allow information to flow to businesses and customers through competitive local networks, helping firms operate more efficiently.

 

However, much of the region’s data traffic still travels internationally, even when communication is only between islands. King said this detour drives up costs and slows connectivity.

 

“Traditionally, our networks were built based on telecommunications infrastructure,” he said. “All of the traffic goes to the north, while sometimes we’re just trying to communicate between islands.”

 

He called for better use of existing infrastructure, keeping local traffic within the region and using international connections only when necessary. He also praised the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) for supporting this shift.

 

King emphasised the need for neutral governance of digital gateways. He likened the situation to airports, which are typically managed in ways that allow access to multiple carriers. In the same way, he said, digital infrastructure should not be controlled by a single entity.

 

“We couldn’t perceive having [an air carrier landing]… managed by one particular airline,” he said. “They’re always managed in a way that is neutral. The same way we should be looking at our digital ecosystem.”

 

Without neutrality and regional collaboration, Caribbean states risk stifling their digital growth. King warned that the consequences would mirror what happens when airports favour a single carrier – limited access, higher costs and reduced competition.

 

As small businesses adopt artificial intelligence, King also urged vigilance around data protection. He said AI can unlock new opportunities, but only if firms safeguard sensitive information.

 

“One of the most important priorities is ensuring the protection of valuable data,” he said. “This allows businesses to create value they had previously been unable to achieve.”

 

He outlined four pillars of protection: sovereignty, infrastructure, governance and human awareness.

 

Data sovereignty, in particular, remains a challenge.

 

King asked whether Caribbean states are prepared to guarantee local or regional control of data, especially when cross-border agreements are involved.

 

He also reminded businesses that the greatest threat often comes from within.

 

“The weakest link within the data security process still remains the human,” King said. “We need to make sure that our staff is trained and is aware of all of the ways that hackers today are using to get information.”
Customer trust, he added, is non-negotiable.

 

“We need to make sure that we have consent policies so that our customers, who are entrusting us with their valuable information, understand and approve how their data is being used,” King said.

 

(SZB)