The U.S. and Jamaican governments are partnering to expand and expedite high-speed broadband to underserved communities across the island nation. Loop News reported that agencies from both countries held a two-day conference in Kingston, Jamaica, to discuss rural connectivity through private sector solutions and governmental programs.
During the event, officials from both countries signed a memorandum of understanding, creating a framework for future collaboration and commitment to continue working together to achieve common objectives. The workshop is a follow-up to an initial roundtable discussion in October 2021, in Washington, D.C. Jamaican and U.S. leaders discussed the benefits of 5G, issues related to network security, and supplier diversity, including Open RAN, reported Loop News.
As the event wrapped up, the Jamaican government finalized a Declaration of Principles on 5G Cooperation with the United States. According to Loop News, funding for the project will come from the U.S.’s Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership initiative, which helps partner countries harness the power of an open, reliable, and secure digital economy.
The U.S. Small Business Administration has worked closely with Jamaica’s Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology and other stakeholders to develop protocols and plans for future innovations. Recent connectivity progress includes a 700 MHz auction, with the winning bidder expected to invest over $14.75 million in building out 4G network infrastructure. This initiative will increase competition in the country’s mobile market, bring coverage to underserved areas, and generate revenue for the treasury, reported Loop News. Another project underway is ensuring access to educational content for over 400,000 home-bound students and providing connectivity to health centers and hospitals islandwide.
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