Caribbean ICT watch: Fiber investments, debt restructuring, free Wi-Fi

Flow Jamaica fiber migration

Cable & Wireless's Jamaican subsidiary, Flow, projects to invest US$50mn this year to continue network recovery, extend fiber and improve resilience. 

The company is about to complete the migration from copper to fiber but has lost 20,000 fixed-line customers because of hurricane Beryl in 2024, incurring recovery costs of US$9mn, while 761,000 homes have been passed with fiber, the Jamaica Business Observer reported.

"We have another, let's say, 20,000 homes on the copper network that we need to overbuild and then we'll be complete. We will then become a full 100% fiber network," Flow head Stephen Price was quoted as saying.

Last year, the company invested US$80mn, up from US$59mn projected. 

Digicel refinancing 

Digicel has paused its US$2.8bn refinancing plans over uncertainty regarding an ongoing US Department of Justice investigation into a possible violation of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the Irish Times reported. 

The Jamaica-based company uses the US bond market to raise capital and in November has made a voluntary disclosure related to possible violations of US law. 

Digicel completed a major debt restructuring last year, which improved its balance sheet. 

Bahamas sponsored Wi-Fi

Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) and AD-Fi launched a sponsored Wi-Fi service to provide free connectivity across public buses, taxis and water taxis around the city of Nassau. 

This initiative uses AD-Fi's programmatic advertising technology and BTC's 4G network. The service reduces connectivity costs for transit operators by nearly 90%.

Both companies plan to expand the platform to live events and public spaces, among others. 

Jamaican ICT authority

The Jamaican information and communication technology authority started operations on April 2.

The entity will support the digital transformation agenda and help the development and implementation of a national ICT strategy, establishing and enforcing policies, standards and guidelines, the Jamaica Observer reported.