Roaming charges must go, say PM, CTU boss

JUMP programme that will see low-income households getting access to the Internet. Taylor thanked Cable & Wireless for its commitment to the Caribbean and for its investment in the ICT infrastructure to provide the foundation for national digital transformation. Noting that he was pleased to be a part of the process in 2022 that saw the radical reduction in roaming charges within the CARICOM single ICT space, he told the specially invited guests at the Sandals Barbados Resort that despite the progress, there was still a need for harmonisation of regulation to take it even further. “It is clear indication that if we are to seriously close the connectivity gap, we have to look at the entire Internet ecosystem and come up with new ways of collaborating, from policymakers, regulators, to the private sector to international organisations and civil society groups. This must be a collective effort,” he said. “I know the challenges with respect to provision of competing services by companies that are not regulated and are not making the same investment that you have. As you know, CTU has embarked on a process for which you will need the support at the highest level – the CARICOM Heads of Government – in order to resolve this issue.” It was at the 31st CARICOM Intersessional Meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Government in Bridgetown in February 2020 that Prime Minister Mottley announced the plan for lower roaming charges. At the time, she said the rates were punitive and bankrupting citizens when they travel. Following negotiations with telecommunications providers Flow and Digicel, along with the implementation of new rules, the companies signed the Declaration of St George’s Towards the Reduction of Intra-Caribbean Roaming Charges last year, paving the way for new fixed roaming charges to become a reality. At the time, officials also agreed to cooperate on the development of a roadmap for the planned CARICOM single ICT space. (MM)]]>