One Communications is committed to achieving the goals of the Gigabit Society in the Caribbean which includes the creation of a sustainable, digitally integrated, globally competitive region, while emphasising the need for all concerned to work together.
According to a One Communications (Guyana) Inc release yesterday, the company’s President of International Operations, Damien Blackburn, made these remarks at the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organizations (CANTO) gathering in Curaçao. In his address he focussed on the collective mission to achieve the Gigabit Society in the Caribbean, by 2030, emphasising collaboration as the cornerstone for regional progress, and invoking the African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,” as a call to action for industry stakeholders.
CANTO is a nonprofit organisation that is made up of and represents the voice of most of the telecommunication companies throughout the Caribbean. It has 110 member companies from 33 countries.
Blackburn thanked CANTO for its longstanding commitment to advocacy, capacity building, regulatory support, and promoting digital transformation across the Caribbean. He also highlighted One Communication’s and its parent corporation ATN International’s deep ties with CANTO, dating back over two decades when its founder, Cornelius B. Prior, Jr, played a pivotal role in navigating the organisation through transformational times.
He also acknowledged the organisation’s critical contributions to advancing the telecommunications sector. “CANTO has provided a platform for advocacy, knowledge sharing, and fostering digital innovation. It is a vital partner in bringing the Caribbean Gigabit Society vision to life.”
The vision for a Caribbean Gigabit Society
Also discussed were the collaborative efforts that led to the development of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Working Group’s 2024 report, “Towards a Caribbean Gigabit Society 2030”, which outlines a transformative plan to create a sustainable, digitally integrated, globally competitive region. This vision, the release explained, promises “significant benefits,” including enhanced connectivity, improved business opportunities, and a more competitive global presence. Central to this vision is universal access to internet through 5G networks and fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) connections, with a baseline speed of 100 megabits per second scalable to one gigabits per second.
The Working Group’s report also highlights three key pillars for achieving the Caribbean Gigabit Society: 1) 5G and FTTH coverage targets – defining measurable goals for infrastructure deployment; 2) Addressing the funding gap – calling for contributions from Big Tech Over-The-Top (OTT) providers to help fund broadband infrastructure that carries their data; and 3) regulatory harmonisation – developing a unified regulatory framework to support the Single ICT Space including digital trade, AI integration, cybersecurity, and more.
Blackburn also took the opportunity to acknowledge the “significant contributions” of Lisa Agard and the CANTO C9 Steering Group in leading these efforts, noting, “Her ingenuity, intelligence, and focus have been instrumental in shaping this vision.”
Also mentioned was a release by CANTO, headlined, “USD 9 Billion+ Needed to Support Caribbean’s Transition to a Gigabit Society”, where Agard highlighted that data capacity investment is required by network operators because 70 per cent of network data arises from Over-the-Top (OTT) services provided by the largest Big Tech companies and data demand is forecast to require a huge expansion in data capacity. It too noted that the Big Tech companies do not contribute to network deployment investment or maintenance within the Caribbean region.
One Communication’s commitment
The release pointed out that One Communications has already taken significant steps toward realising the goals of the Caribbean Gigabit Society, with Blackburn highlighting the company’s rebranding to One Communications, which reflects its investments in fibre, 5G, and a premium customer experience. He also underscored the importance of Brava – an enterprise solutions brand, offering mission-critical business services, cybersecurity, and cloud-based solutions – a testament to the company’s commitment and capabilities.
Blackburn also restated the importance of working together to achieve this vision. “We know we cannot achieve this vision alone… Collaboration is essential, and we must innovate together to serve the people of the Caribbean in new and transformative ways.”
And to buttress his point, the executive referred to two examples of the company’s demonstration of this collaborative spirit here in Guyana: MMG digital payments – supporting top-up payments for all network operators; and 2) Shared Network Infrastructure – partnering to make fibre assets accessible to improve resilience for the population and bolster independent wireless ISPs.
A call for unity and collaboration
Reflecting on his 17 years of service in the Caribbean, Blackburn shared his inspiration from collaborative efforts across the region, including a memorable experience working with late US President Jimmy Carter and Habitat for Humanity in Haiti.
