BVI internet woes reach regional body

The Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), which yesterday wrapped up a forum on internet service regionally, said it has found out that people in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) are not satisfied with the amount of money they have to spend for relatively poor quality internet service.

But the regional body noted that, even if it realizes the need for stronger action regarding the provision of such service, local authorities will have the final say.

“I’ve had some discussions with some locals, and what I’ve gathered is that people are not satisfied with the value for money that they are getting in terms of the telecoms services,” said telecom specialist at CTU, Nigel Cassimire.

He stated that CTU policy recommends that telecommunication providers in the region offer minimum internet speeds of between five and 10 megabits per second.

However, some providers in the BVI are feeding customers with speed as low as one megabit per second.

Cassimire said CTU is willing to advise the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission to demand better internet services from telecommunication providers in the BVI – Flow, Digicel, and CCT.

“The fact is we (CTU) are an advisory body. We develop polices based on research and take them to our member governments for approval. Even if it is approved at the regional level, it still has to enact at the local level in each separate country, the appropriate laws to give effect to anything they might want to introduce… Here, you have the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, which basically sets the rules for your market here in the BVI,” Cassimire said during a press conference in Road Town yesterday, August 23.