(Trinidad Guardian) Despite complaints of no internet connectivity in far-flung areas of the islands, T&T’s main internet service providers say broadband coverage has been achieved for 95 per cent of the population.
During a Joint Select Committee (JSC) meeting held to address the issue of hybrid learning, TSTT’s Chief Executive Officer Lisa Agard and Digicel’s CEO Abraham Smith told the Committee there has been significant investment in broadband infrastructure.
“We have reached over 95 per cent of the population of T&T with broadband capability whether it be fixed or wireless,” Agard revealed. She noted that even though 95 per cent had access, there was only an 80 per cent uptake of connectivity by citizens.
“This meant that some people could not afford internet connectivity”, she added.
The 6th Virtual Meeting of the Joint Select Committee (JSC) on Social Services and Public Administration, held on Wednesday 21 April 2021, sought to examine the effects of the hybrid learning system on student performance in government and government-assisted schools during the revised COVID-19 restrictions.
The TSTT CEO explained to Committee members that 401,000 households have high-speed broadband internet access, with speeds of 10 megs (megabits) or more.
“But there is a gap between take-up and coverage. It means some families are challenged financially to access the networks,” she added.
Agard said TSTT, Digicel and Flow have been holding discussions with the Ministry of Education, and they have come up with a plan to help 6,000 low-income households who cannot afford internet.
“We will offer to low-income households a $100 package, VAT inclusive, allowing a 15 megs speed to 6,000 households. Each service provider will cater for 2,000 households each. We are working with the Ministry of Education which will do a means test, based on a survey of those who do not have the internet at home,” Agard said.
She noted that the internet service providers have received a list of students who do not have the internet at home.
There has also been an increase in usage, she reported to the JSC.
“We had 351,906 broadband subscriptions in 2020, which was a 2.9 per cent increase compared to the prior year,” she added.
Meanwhile, Digicel CEO Abraham Smith said there has been a 56 per cent increase in fixed networks and a 64 per cent increase in mobile network connectivity, over the past year.
He said Digicel invested $1.5 billion in fibre and mobile broadband network infrastructure in 2016. He noted that Digicel offered over $170 million in relief during the pandemic.
But MP for Arima and Housing Minister Penelope Beckles said despite these statistics, many areas along the North Coast were still affected by a lack of connectivity. Among these were Blanchissuese, parts of Moruga and Icacos.
MP for Couva South Rudranath Indarsingh said some schools were still without connectivity even though classes had resumed for some students.
But Chandrika Samaroo, Digicel’s Operations Director explained that the terrain often affects internet accessibility in some areas.
“It is quite expensive and not financially feasible to set up broadband infrastructure in some areas, but we will explore options over the next 12 months,” he said.
Opposition Senator David Nakhid slammed the Telecommunications Authority of T&T (TATT) for relying on service providers for information on areas that were not serviced by connectivity.
“They will not go into areas where it is not financially feasible to operate. They will not make money. How could you rely on service providers to provide information on areas which did not have internet?” Senator Nakhid said.
The Opposition Senator lamented that the last digital divide survey done by TATT was done in 2013-2014.
TATT’s chief executive officer, Cynthia Reddock-Downes, said they have been receiving data from people who cannot access the internet as well as internet service providers. This data has been mapped out, she added.
Acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Public Administration and Digital Transformation, Claudelle McKellar, said 13 more ICT Access Centres will be rolled out soon.
These will be located in Beetham Gardens, La Pastora, Santa Cruz and La Horquetta.
