CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) says the results of a survey will provide critical insights into the state of access, affordability, usage, and digital skills across its member states.
ECTEL has released the findings of the Digital Inclusion Survey (DIS 2024), which was conducted in collaboration with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the World Bank’s Caribbean Digital Transformation Project (CARDTP) in 2024. A total of 7,948 individuals and 3,525 households were interviewed.
“The DIS 2024 was designed to assess households’ and individuals’ access to, use, perception of affordability of ICT and broadband services and products, barriers to access and use, and digital literacy and skills in the ECTEL contracting states. It is expected that this would provide the basis for further targeted interventions to promote more inclusive access to ICT and close the digital divide,” ECTEL noted.
ECTEL is the regional regulatory body for electronic communications in Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Its primary function is to promote open entry, market liberalisation, and competition in the electronic communications sector.
“As global connectivity increases, the ability of citizens to meaningfully participate in society will be significantly influenced by their ability to access, use, and benefit from Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs).
“This report on the ECTEL Digital Inclusion Survey 2024 of the ECTEL contracting states highlights the importance of ensuring that citizens take part in the digital economy and benefit from its opportunities.”
The regulator, which is marking its 25th year of providing telecommunications regulatory advisory services, said, “This report allows for an assessment of the current state of digital inclusion, and specifically the barriers that impede meaningful access and connectivity by citizens.”
It said that the survey was conducted to better understand how individuals and households across ECTEL’s member states access and use digital technologies, and to identify barriers that may prevent full participation in the digital economy.
It said the findings highlight both encouraging progress and persistent challenges, with ECTEL’s managing director, David Cox, noting that the publication of the survey represented a significant milestone for the regulator.
He said that ECTEL and the National Telecommunication Regulatory Commissions (NTRCs) must rely on data for regulatory analysis and intervention, rather than on anecdotal observations.
ECTEL’s chairman, Gregory Shillingford, urged stakeholders to use the survey’s insights to inform the development of inclusive policies and partnerships that ensure individuals, businesses, and communities can fully participate in and benefit from the digital economy.
ECTEL said that DIS 2024 provides an in-depth analysis of the digital landscape in the member states, focusing on access, usage, perceptions of affordability, experience with quality of service, and barriers to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and broadband services.
“The primary objective of the survey was to assess households’ and individuals’ access to, use, and affordability of ICT and broadband services, as well as to identify barriers and evaluate digital literacy and skills.
“The findings will inform targeted interventions to promote inclusive ICT access and reduce the digital divide in the Contracting States. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews using Android tablets, facilitated by the World Bank’s Survey Solutions software. The questionnaire, developed by ECTEL in collaboration with DPS Inc., was refined through a pilot survey conducted in January 2024,” ECTEL added.
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