Gigabit Caribbean
Caribbean Broadband Prices Are Affordable – Check the Data
Across the Caribbean, broadband is priced within reach. The challenge isn’t consumer fees—it’s ensuring the networks carrying ever-growing Big Tech traffic are fairly funded.
The $13 Billion Capital Barrier
Upgrading legacy networks requires capital injections that the current telecom business model cannot generate alone.
Separating legacy 2G/3G networks from a future Gigabit Caribbean Society.
Low Regional ARPU vs Global Hardware Costs
Consumer prices scale to local incomes. Network hardware does not. An antenna, server, or subsea cable costs the exact same in Antigua as in America. Operators cannot fund billion-dollar global hardware solely by raising prices on local consumers.
15 Million Caribbean Citizens Remain Unconnected
Without fair contribution models, 1.6 million households (4.6 million including Haiti) will remain completely excluded from the digital economy.
Cost of 5 GB Mobile Data (USD)
*Well under the UN Affordability Target (2% of GNI). Operators already reinvest ~0.5% of regional GDP annually.
Big Tech’s Zero Contribution
Global tech platforms extract maximum regional value while paying zero toward local network costs.
70% of All Mobile Data
Is generated by just 4 Big Tech companies (Meta, Alphabet, TikTok, Netflix). Mobile traffic has grown 500% over four years and is projected to reach 15 GB/user/month by 2030.
Network capacity expansion required to carry non-paying Big Tech traffic.
The Free-Rider Comparison
| Metric / Contribution | Caribbean Telecom Operators | Global Big Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Local Corporate Taxes & VAT | Yes | $0 |
| Spectrum & License Fees | Millions Annually | $0 |
| Local Employment | Thousands of Local Jobs | 0 |
| Infrastructure Reinjection | ~18% of Revenues | 0% |
| Estimated Revenue Per User (ARPU) | < $10 / month | ~ $30 / month |
Aligning Incentives for 2030
Five fair pathways to ensure high-volume originators help fund the networks they rely on.
1. Ecosystem Cooperation
Joint capacity management frameworks linking traffic originators to regional buildout targets.
2. Revenue Sharing
Commercial fair-value monetization models rewarding infrastructure providers.
3. Transit Charges
Capacity-based Digital Network Service fees for high-volume traffic originators.
PM Mitchell’s Leadership
Prime Minister Mitchell is leading CARICOM’s push for digital sovereignty, closing the $13B capital barrier, and demanding fair contributions from global platforms to guarantee a Gigabit future for all Caribbean citizens.
PM Mitchell
CARICOM Digital Mandate Lead
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