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