A new chapter in digital accessibility begins for the Marchand community as the Universal Service Fund (USF) Office of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission – Saint Lucia, launches a much-needed Community Wi-Fi Project.
This initiative, named “The Marchand Playing Fields Project” (Mindoo Phillip Park and Marchand Grounds) and funded under the USF’s mandate, aims to help bridge the digital divide by providing free, high-speed internet access to two key sporting facilities in Marchand, the Community Centre and the surrounding residential areas.
The project brings essential connectivity to a vibrant sporting community while also benefiting residents in the immediate vicinity.
Inclusion for all
By focusing on the sporting facilities, the initiative hopes to support youth and sports development through technology. These facilities, often used by budding athletes and active community members, now have a new edge: Internet access that opens doors to online educational content, e-sports, and real-time coaching resources.
It’s not just about enhancing the sporting experience but ensuring that players and spectators alike are digitally connected. The project’s WiFi service will also cover a wide radius beyond just the playing fields, reaching the households and communities within the immediate vicinity, to deliver consistent, high-quality connectivity.
This USF-funded project continues to reflect the commitment to closing the digital gap and making broadband connectivity accessible, affordable and available to under-served and marginalised communities. By bringing internet access directly to places where people gather, learn, and live, this initiative exemplifies how digital inclusion can create opportunities and empower local communities.
The project stakeholders are Sports St Lucia Inc. as managers of the sports facilities and with responsibility for all aspects of its operations, and the contract signatories, NTRC/USF and Cable and Wireless St. Lucia (FLOW) as the contracted Service Provider.
The contract was signed on March 22nd 2024 at a cost of approximately EC$170,000.00, and implementation was fast-tracked to accommodate the June 2024 World Cup T20 cricket matches hosted in St. Lucia.
The NTRC subsidy to this project will be provided for five years to culminate in 2029. The project was officially launched at a ceremony yesterday, October 18th, 2024 at the Mindoo Phillip Park facility in Castries.