Digicel has signed a landmark five-year deal with St Vincent and the Grenadines National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, providing thousands in the region with high speed internet access.

Through the partnership, the country’s government will provide wireless internet access at 116 different locations across the mainland. Community centres, learning resource centres, playing fields, hard courts, tourism sites and non government organisations will be connected to broadband with download speeds of up to 300Mbps.

Apollo Knights, director of the NTRC, spearheaded the programme.

“This programme will have transformational benefits for thousands of Vincentians of all ages and from all walks of life,” Mr Knights said at the contract signing ceremony at the CANTO 2022 conference in Miami, Florida.

“The ability to work, learn, interact and share at multiple locations across the islands will put St Vincent and the Grenadines on the map as a connected society.”

Digicel St Vincent and the Grenadines chief executive officer, Brenda Barbour-Charles, said with research from the International Telecommunications Union showing that an increase of 10 per cent in mobile broadband penetration yields an increase of two per cent in gross domestic product, the case for connectivity could not be more apparent. ​

“We’re all about connecting the unconnected and ensuring that everyone, everywhere has access to the people and things they love most,” Ms Barbour-Charles said.

“In bringing superfast connectivity to thousands of Vincentians, we’re excited to be helping to position St Vincent and the Grenadines at the forefront of the knowledge economy and to drive opportunities for all.”