Harmonized Caribbean Spectrum Planning and Management Jamaica, Dec. 2013 Why is this important? • Beneficiary countries will have the necessary information and tools to deepen the harmonization of spectrum planning and strengthen their management policies and practices across the Caribbean Region • The ultimate goals are helping countries reaching universality of service provision and reducing prices 18 Challenges Whereas fixed Internet is going to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21% grow at by 2017, mobile data is going to 66% by the same year (Cisco, 2013) 18 The digital divide is growing in LAC in terms of access conditions Percentage of broadband subscriptions (Out of the total population) Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants Fixed Broadband Mobile Broadband 50 50 40 40 30 30 20 20 10 10 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 LAC 0 2002 2003 OECD 2004 2005 LAC 2006 2007 2008 2009 OECD Source: ITU, 2011, 2012 4 Fixed v. mobile Fixed-line broadband service Advantages - Speed; Reliability; Able to carry more data Mobile broadband service - Lower CAPEX ; Connection is portable; Lower minimum total price 18 Opportunities • Digital Switchover • New technologies allowing for new uses of the spectrum • New ways of understanding how the spectrum should be managed 18 Longer term results • Increased access to mobile internet • Cheaper services and products • Faster growth of the mobile wireless market 18 THANK YOU ! Nathalia Foditsch nathaliaf@iadb.org