US Market
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.