Jamaica is ranked among the top 15 countries in the world with top broadband speeds

Jamaica is ranked among the top 15 countries in the world with top broadband speeds, chairman of Columbus Communications International, Brendan Paddick, has revealed.

“With Flow’s introduction of up to 100 megabits (per second) of internet speeds into Jamaican homes, I am proud to announce that Jamaica has now moved up the Information and Telecommunications Technology (ICT) ladder … ranking higher than places such as Canada, the United States and even the United Kingdom for broadband speeds,” he said. Columbus Communications International is the parent company of telecommunications entity, Flow.

Paddick was speaking at the launch of Flow’s Columbus Business Solutions, at the Wyndham Hotel in New Kingston, on March 16. “With this broadband infrastructure, Jamaica’s government is well positioned to meet its ambitious plans of universal access,” he said.set aggressive targets

The chairman was referring to the government’s mandate for Jamaica in terms of the ICT sector, as outlined in its 2030 Development Plan (Vision 2030 Jamaica). “They (the government) have set aggressive targets for Jamaica. They want a strong and competitive ICT sector with universal and open access to ICT with widely accessible and affordable networks all within an enabling environment. We are proud to be a significant piece of this very complex plan,” he said.

Paddick pointed out that Columbus Communications International has now invested over US$250 million in Jamaica, “and I promise you that this figure will maintain its forward momentum as we continue to unveil significant broadband developments in Jamaica in the coming years.” He noted that governments across the world, such as in Canada, Asia, France, the Netherlands, and other regions of Europe are spending billions of dollars to bring next-generation fibre-based networks, like the network Columbus has already delivered in Jamaica and the region, to their respective countries.

“Once broadband networks like those of Columbus are deployed, they instantly stimulate the economy by providing the country new business tools, by opening the door to ongoing business innovation and by supporting a wide range of multimedia consumer services that are the drivers of the 21st Century economy,” Paddick said.

Source: The Star News

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