2 weeks ago
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The Government plans to expand free public Wi-fi by 40 per cent this fiscal year, with a new tender for broadband services in Ocho Rios, St Ann, forming part of the wider push to modernise the national digital infrastructure.
The expansion, however, comes with rising costs. The Universal Service Fund, USF, the government agency responsible for executing the project, is projecting a $2.08-billion deficit this year – following a $2.8-billion shortfall last fiscal year.
The USF has issued a tender for a service provider to install and manage public Wi-Fi infrastructure across key areas of Ocho Rios, including Main Street and Turtle River Park. This builds on the town’s initial public Wi-Fi roll-out in 2020, launched shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted education, business, and public life.
“We hope Ochi will lead the way, but connectivity must extend to all parishes,” said Natalie Rose, president of the Jamaica chapter of the Internet Society and assistant professor at Northern Caribbean University.
She added that the expansion should prioritise local communities – not just tourist zones.
“This isn’t just good for visitors. It’s critical for schoolchildren, youth clubs, and families who rely on digital access every day.”
The business behind free access, Rose explained, results in private-sector providers receiving funding from the government or non-governmental organisations. But in the interview with the Financial Gleaner, she also warned of the need for safeguards.
“Free Wi-Fi has to come with safety,” Rose said. “If children are accessing these networks, restrictions must be in place to block harmful content and piracy.”
As Jamaica moves towards a digital-first future, the Government’s public Wi-Fi expansion reflects a growing recognition that internet access is no longer a luxury – it is a public good, she added.
The expansion is part of a broader strategy to modernise Jamaica’s digital infrastructure. The USF, which falls under the Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, plans to “increase the number of public Wi-Fi hotspots by 40 per cent”, according to the Jamaica Public Bodies report for the fiscal year ending March 2026.
In addition to boosting public access in resort towns and urban centres, the USF plans to strengthen the National Broadband Initiative, adding 155 new sites and investing $1.3 billion to improve the Government’s communication systems.
At the community level, the USF will install 63 new internet access points annually under its Community Connect Programme, which now spans more than 300 locations. The plan also includes support for digital literacy, with three training programmes, 25 ICT school clubs, five scholarships, and the distribution of 630 devices to students.
That’s the vision. It is aimed at bridging the country’s digital divide, according to the Jamaica Public Bodies. But it comes at a high cost for the fund, which recorded a deficit of around $2.8 billion last fiscal year and is projecting a $2.08-billion shortfall this year.
English (US) ·