Prime Minister Gaston Browne says he is committed to making broadband services accessible and affordable to all citizens.

At the opening of the 5th Industrial Revolution Artificial Intelligence conference hosted by the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, PM Browne emphasized the government’s dedication to ensuring the widespread availability of affordable broadband services.

He announced that the government is investing in establishing its own sub-sea cable to guarantee the implementation of affordable broadband policies.

PM Browne highlighted the importance of this initiative in closing the digital divide and promoting the use of extensive data in various sectors, such as education.

Moreover, PM Browne stressed that early adoption of AI and digitization in the Caribbean requires making broadband services more affordable.

He expressed concerns about current broadband providers prioritizing profits over aligning with government policies, emphasizing that broadband services are considered a public good and should be affordable for all.

PM Browne stated that if affordable prices cannot be achieved through the private sector, the government has an obligation to intervene and invest to ensure universal access to broadband, comparing the importance of broadband services to the provision of water and electricity.