Work Continues to Improve Regulation of ICT Sector

During the fiscal year 2015/2016, the Government will be undertaking further work to improve the regulation of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, as part of measures to increase growth in the industry.

This will be done under the Enhancing the ICT Regulatory Environment project, for which $3.9 million has been allocated in the Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives.

The project will enable the Government to facilitate future broadband development and adoption while tailoring market interventions to complement private sector investments.

Some $36 million has been spent over the last two years on various components of the project, and the allocation for this fiscal year will complete consultancy services aimed at developing regulations for the sector.

Deliveries under the project include: the establishment of a stand-alone ICT Regulator; updating of Jamaica’s ICT regulatory environment and governance model; development of information tools on the status of broadband in Jamaica; and the strengthening of capacity to implement and monitor public policies.

Other objectives include: the development of a plan for the hosting of an interactive broadband coverage map and dashboard, identify any datasets and technical capabilities that may be required to implement, operationalise and maintain the system, and assessing the existing Geographic Information System (GIS) capabilities to facilitate the development and maintenance of an interactive broadband coverage map.

The project, which started in 2013, is being implemented by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Energy and Mining, through funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the Government of Jamaica.