Dear Editor,

Jamaica’s rate of Internet penetration is not very encouraging. Despite significant progress made over the last decade, it remains relatively low.

In fact, St Lucia, at number 11, is the only Caribbean island listed among the top 50 countries with highest penetration rate. They have a rate of 88.5 per cent. Jamaica, on the other hand, has an rate of 54.7 per cent. At number one is Iceland at 97.8 per cent.

A number of factors have negatively impacted Jamaica’s rate of Internet penetration rate. One such factor is simple economics. It is far too expensive for the average Jamaican household to purchase a laptop or PC. The prohibitive cost to acquire a personal computer needs to be tackled with a sense of urgency. We need to find creative means of bridging what is obviously a social divide.

One way of addressing this divide between the wealthy and the working poor is for the Government to use some of funds from telecoms providers to establish computer outlets islandwide, which would then sell laptops and personal computers at a reduced cost. Owning a computer should not be viewed as luxury, instead it should be seen as a necessary development tool to which our youths should have ready access. Unsurprisingly, there seems to be a direct relationship between the rate of Internet penetration and the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI). The higher the HDI, the greater the proportion of the population uses the Internet.

HDI is a statistical tool used to measure a country’s overall achievement in its social and economic dimensions. The social and economic dimensions of a country are based on the health of a people, their level of education attainment, and their standard of living.

It makes little sense investing in islandwide fibre optic Internet when the client on whose behalf the investment is being made will be unable to access the hardware due to

financial constraints.

The second factor impacting Jamaica’s rate of Internet penetration is the literacy level of our society. The top five countries with the highest rate of penetration all have literacy levels above 97 per cent. Iceland has a 99 per cent literacy level, so too is Norway which is ranked number 2. Jamaica’s literacy level is around 86 per cent.

Additionally, we need to make a determined effort to reduce the cost associated with having Internet access. Internet service costs are just too high.

It does not make much sense neither to own a personal computer but unable to access internet because the cost is too prohibitive.

A collaborative effort will be needed if we are going to have an increase in the rate of Internet penetration, which will promote a viable business environment and definitely attract necessary investment to help us out of our present economic rut.

Wayne Campbek

waykam@yahoo.com

www.wayaine.blogspot.com