ICT
From The Report: Trinidad & Tobago 2017
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The liberalisation of the Trinidad and Tobago telecoms industry, which has been under way since 2004 under the guidance of state regulator the Telecommunications Authority of T&T, has been one of the major successes of the non-oil economy of the last decade. The country now boasts a number of high-quality, fixed-line internet and cable TV providers, and two mobile operators, which have invested in developing infrastructure and delivering competitively priced, high-tech services. There have also been positive strides in terms of developing the domestic ICT industry. Recognising that education – both in terms of general digital literacy and advanced training – is the necessary first step towards building up the sector, the government has focused on drafting a five-year ICT in education strategy, which should be published in 2017 or early 2018. In order for the sector to grow it will be critical to develop adequate human resource talent, only then can the sector develop locally created software solutions for domestic or regional use.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Three is company: Liberalisation has brought a host of benefits to consumers, along with stronger competition among operators
OBG
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The liberalisation of the Trinidad and Tobago telecoms industry, which has been under way since 2004 under the guidance of state regulator the Telecommunications Authority of T&T (TATT), has been one of the major successes of the non-oil economy of the last decade. The country now boasts a number of high-quality fixed-line, internet and cable TV providers, and two mobile operators, which have invested in developing infrastructure and delivering competitively priced, high-tech services. In…

Analysis

Spoiled for choice: Consumers will soon have the opportunity to choose between three 4G providers
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In the not too distant future, Trinidad and Tobago’s citizens could have a choice of three 4G LTE mobile phone providers, following a change of tack from the Telecoms Authority of T&T (TATT) brought about by the appointment of a new CEO, John Prince, in December 2016. While the identity of the country’s future third mobile provider, which is long assumed to be Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), and the date of launch have yet to be confirmed, it is expected by the end of 2017. The…

Overview

Leader of the pack: Despite the country’s reputation as a regional leader, authorities and business are not satisfied with the status quo
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Successive Trinidad and Tobago governments have recognised the potential of the internet and the ICT sector more broadly to provide efficiency gains to business and public sector processes. In November 2013 the People’s Partnership government announced the National ICT Plan 2014-20, which had the objective of creating “a dynamic knowledge-based society, driven by innovative use of ICT to enhance the social, economic and cultural development of the people of T&T”. In perhaps the…

Analysis

Closer to home: As online shopping grows in importance, local retailers call for e-payment reforms
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With cash transactions dominating the Trinidad and Tobago retail sector and with an estimated 200,000 credit cards in circulation, the country has lagged behind in the implementation of online payment systems. The popularity of online purchases from foreign websites demonstrates that Trinbagonians are comfortable with buying goods online, but a lack of competition among payment processors in the domestic market means that moving trade online is too costly for many of the country’s merchants.…