The Universal Service Fund (USF) has invested billions of dollars over the last nine years to provide Internet access to Jamaicans across the island.
This was disclosed by USF Chairman Bishop Wellesley Blair, who said the fund has completed a total of 188 Internet community access points (CAP) throughout the country at a cost of $626 million.
He noted that CAPs enable community members to use the Internet at minimal or no cost to them to facilitate research, bill payments, education, communication, business, marketing and social networking.
Blair, who was speaking at the official opening of the Caribbean Palm Estate Information Technology (IT) resource and skills training center in southwest St. Andrew last Wednesday, said the agency had approved financing for 236 community access points as of July 2014, of which 188 have been commissioned into service.
“The USF continues to do wonders in Jamaica,” he said, pointing out that the agency has also completed some 11 special projects including those with the Jamaica Library Service, Jamaica Society for the Blind, Jamaica Constabulary Force, and the Police Commissioner’s Office.
Blair said the USF was currently working on 65 new projects at different stages of completion, which are expected to cost the agency a total of $616 million.
“We have also budgeted over $1.4 billion for the Tablets in Schools pilot project, which was recently rolled out,” he said.
Additionally, he noted that the Islandwide Broadband Network project, in collaboration with LIME and FLOW, is also being implemented and is expected to provide islandwide coverage with initial connectivity in schools, libraries, and post offices.
Source: jamaicaobserver.com
