Barbados currently ranks third in the Americas and 29th in the world in terms of its Internet coverage.
Chief Telecommunications Officer Reginald Bourne (left) and Programme Officer of the International Telecommunication Union Sylvester Cadette speaking to reporters today.
Chief Telecommunications Officer Reginald Bourne today disclosed key findings of the 2015 Measuring Information Society Report, during a Press launch of the Report at UN House, Hastings, Christ Church.
The Government official told reporters that over the five year period 2010 to 2015, the island moved up from number 38, with an ICT Development Index (IDI) score of 6.4, to number 29, with an IDI score of 7.57, while the world average was 5.03.
“I am happy with Barbados’ performance over the past five years. With a ranking of 29 it means that there are 28 rankings above Barbados so there is room for improvement. In terms of ICT development it is a dynamic process so we cannot rest and say we have arrived,” said Bourne, who further reported that in terms of Internet coverage in the Americas the island fell behind the United States and Canada only.
Responding to a query from reporters on the quality of Internet service currently being offered by domestic providers, Bourne said his department has had meetings with the management of FLOW on customer complaints. However, he said his department understood the providers were facing, especially as they relate to solidifying the merger.
“We at the telecommunications Department will keep encouraging our service providers to continue fixing those vexing issues. Rest assured that we are working with the service providers to get the service quality back where it should be,” Bourne added.
In his presentation, Programme Officer of the International Telecommunication Union Sylvester Cadette pointed out that this year’s Measuring the Information Society Report showed that 3.2 billion people worldwide are now online, representing 43.4 per cent of the global population.
Cadette went on to say that mobile cellular subscription has reached about 7.1 billion worldwide with 95 per cent of the global population now covered by a mobile cellular signal. (NC)