MANAGING Director of the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL), Mr. Embert Charles has emphasized the need for a constructive engagement of telecommunications service providers, consumers, regulators and policy makers to address the factors, which hinder the slow uptake of broadband in the region.
Charles cited a recent study undertaken by ECTEL, which found that in addition to the high prices for broadband, many consumers are unaware of the levels and quality of broadband connection they receive from their providers.
In a presentation to the 31st annual conference and trade exhibition of CANTO (Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Operators), the ECTEL Managing Director stated that notwithstanding the numerous initiatives and projects on broadband innovation in the wider Caribbean, the region lags in its broadband penetration. He said “all stakeholders including the telecommunications service providers and regulators must arrive at common ground on entry levels and prices for broadband services”.
Last Wednesday, Caribbean regulators addressed the CANTO conference, which is being held in Miami, USA under the theme “ improving lives through broadband innovation”
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Isaac Solomon and Managing Director Embert Charles are representing ECTEL at the conference. Other regulators at the conference come from Anguilla, Bahamas, Barbados, Montserrat, St. Marten, Turks and Caicos Islands and Trinidad and Tobago.
The CANTO conference and exhibition is an annual gathering of telecommunications service providers, Ministers for telecommunications, vendors, and regulators from the Caribbean and Latin American region.
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