78599 Customized ICT Solutions for Caribbean Growth June 2013 1 Authors: This material has been prepared by Doyle Gallegos, Lead ICT Policy Specialist and ICT Regional Coordinator for the Latin America and Caribbean Region at the World Bank, with contributions from Pau Puig Gabarro, World Bank TWICT Unit. The Caribbean Knowledge Series is an occasional series that presents World Bank knowledge in an accessible format. It is meant to assist knowledge sharing across the region and trigger policy dialogue on topics relevant for the Caribbean This note was prepared to support the participatory policy dialogue in the context of the Caribbean Growth Forum (CGF). The CGF is an initiative facilitated by the Compete Caribbean Program, the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank, with the support of the Canadian International Development Agency, the United Kingdom’s Agency for International Development, CARICOM Secretariat, the University of the West Indies, the European Union and Caribbean Export. It aims to facilitate a multi-stakeholder dialogue to identify practical solutions for the growth challenge in the Caribbean. To learn more about the CGF methodology and progress in each Caribbean country visit: http://caribgrowth.competecaribbean.org/ Disclaimer: The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Executive Directors of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. Visit the entire “Caribbean Knowledge Series� collection at: http://worldbank.org/lac Design & Concept by Room Grupo Creativo | www.room.com.do Cover Photo: World Bank Photo Library 2 3 Customized ICT Solutions for Caribbean Growth ICTs as a key element for economic accounting for only 20%4. Per capita income growth ranges from a high of US$21,970 in the Bahamas to US$700 in Haiti. Disparity among the CARIFORUM Information and Communication Technologies countries is also reflected in the population (ICTs) are seen as a key enabler across many sectors distribution, with two countries (Dominican and services (e.g. water, energy, education, health) Republic and Haiti) accounting for approximately and a driver of economic growth. They provide 75% of the population (20 million people). key inputs for economic growth and employment, and enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, and ICT development in the Caribbean transparency of other sectors, and offer new tools to reduce poverty. There is a growing body of This diversity is also very much apparent in evidence on the economic impact resulting from the different level and sophistication of ICT investment made in telecommunications and, development across countries, as can be more specifically, broadband services1. Even more seen by a comparison of key ICT indicators as important for the overall economy have been the described below. This diversity implies the need strong long-run effects of ICT applications on for customized approaches to resolve inter- productive activities in other sectors. In the last country and intra-regional disparities in ICT sector 10 years, through high-speed communication development. networks and the innovative applications they carry, the impact of ICT as a general purpose A useful snapshot of the level of ICT development technology has enabled fundamental restructuring across the region is provided by a comparison and innovation of the economy. Governments of the ICT Development Index (IDI). The IDI is a are becoming more efficient and transparent by composite index developed by the International offering information and services online (Qiang Telecommunications Union (ITU) combining 11 and Wellenius 2010). indicators into a benchmark measure (See Box 1). A very diverse region The CARIFORUM region2 is one of the most diverse in the world in terms of economic performance and demography. Economic growth averaging about 2.7% in the last decade (2002-11)3 includes outliers such as Bahamas, Barbados and Haiti with less than one percent growth rate, and the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname with about 5.5 % growth. The size of the economy also varies widely. In 2011, GDP was US$55 billion in Dominican Republic US$0.48 billion in Dominica, with four countries accounting for about 80% of the regional GDP, and the remaining eleven countries 1 A 10 percent increase in the number of telephones per 100 inhabitants in developing countries was associated with an increase of 0.6 percentage points in GDP growth, and a 10 percentage point increase in broadband penetration was associated with 1.4 percentage points of additional GDP growth (Qiang 2009). 2 CARIFORUM comprises the 15 Caribbean countries of CARICOM (i.e., Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago) and the Dominican Republic. Figures through the document do not include Montserrat since it is a British overseas territory. 3 The GDP grew only by 2.64 percent in 2008 as a result of the global financial crisis, contracting by 2.6 percent and 0.26 percent in 2009 and 2010 respectively. 4 Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and the Bahamas account for 45 percent, 18 percent, 12.5 percent and 6.5 percent respectively of the regional GDP. 4 Box 1 ICT Development Index The 11 indicators that compose the IDI can also be grouped into Access Index, Use Index, and Skills Index. The Access Index captures ICT readiness, and includes five infrastructure and access indicators (fixed telephony, mobile telephony, international Internet bandwidth, households with computers, and households with Internet). Together, these indicators measure the basic level of access and infrastructure development within the country. The Skills Index captures ICT capability and skills as indispensable inputs for ICT uptake, and includes three proxy indicators (adult literacy, gross secondary enrollment, and gross tertiary enrollment). Together, these indicators reflect the country’s human capacity and ability to absorb and take advantage of ICT. The Use Index captures ICT intensity, and includes three ICT and usage indicators (Internet users, fixed broadband, and mobile broadband). Together, these indicators reflect ICT uptake and use, as well as intensity of use. Table 1 presents all four indices of the IDI for It is therefore not surprising to see that the same selected Caribbean countries. Across all indices, cluster of high ranked countries also performs the same countries are top performers: Antigua particularly well in the level of mobile subscription and Barbuda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, penetration (measured as a percentage of Trinidad and Tobago, and St Lucia. The one inhabitants) of greater than 120% as demonstrated exception is the ranking of the Skills Index where in Figure 1. To the grouping of highest mobile Jamaica is more highly ranked than in its other penetration are added Suriname, Dominica, indices. This clustering of the same countries across and St. Kitts and Nevis. These high levels of all indices is all the more interesting considering penetration should be tempered to some extent that the top positions are dominated by the smaller by the fact that mobile services prices remain island countries (less than 200k in population) and relatively high and that people often own multiple in particular those with higher population densities phones from different service providers in order (greater than 200 people per square kilometer). to take advantage of specific rates and offers, thus “inflating� the number of actual mobile users. Table 1—ICT Development Index 2011 Figure 1 - Mobile-cellular Subscriptions per 100 Inhabitants in 2010(*), 2011 2010(*),  2011  Indexes  by  country   Country   IDI   Access   Use   Skills   Index   Index   Index   Index   Antigua  and  Barbuda   5.75   6.99   3.76   7.17   Saint  Vincent  and   4.74   6.09   2.15   7.23   the  Grenadines   Trinidad  and  Tobago   4.57   5.59   2.52   6.67   St.  Lucia   4.49   5.72   2.07   6.87   Suriname*   3.52   4.54   1.22   6.08   Jamaica   3.49   3.96   1.31   6.93   Dominican  Republic   3.34   3.37   1.66   6.62   Data not available for the Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, and St. Kitts and Nevis. Data for Suriname is 2010 Source: Measuring the Information Society 2012, ITU Source: DataBank, World Bank, 2013 5 Notwithstanding these aspects, the region has developed its mobile services platform and Figure 3 Mobile-broadband Market coverage footprint very well. This has been Penetration in 2012 driven primarily by pro-competition policies and regulatory practices (e.g. licensing and spectrum management). This bodes particularly well for the region as mobile platforms that place a phone or smart device in almost every citizen’s hand is fast becoming the single largest delivery system of services (e.g. banking, health, education, m-government, etc.) as well as a preferred mode for citizen engagement, with particular benefit to the poor and disabled. However, if the region is going to be effective in accelerating growth and competitiveness, it must focus on enabling the use of broadband services across every income level and geographic presence of its citizens. Herein lays the major challenge for the region as broadband markets in the region are very much underdeveloped. Figure 2 presents the Source: Wireless Intelligence, 2013 penetration level of fixed broadband services in selected Caribbean countries. Two clusters and one outlier are visible. Specifically, half the countries are below the 7% mark while the Figure 2 Fixed Broadband Subscriptions other half are above (12-14%), with St. Kitts Nevis per 100 Inhabitants in 2010(*), 2011 surpassing all others by far (28%). According to the ITU, the average penetration levels for the World, Developed, and Developing countries in 2011 were 8.5%, 25%, and 4.9%, respectively. Source: DataBank, World Bank, 2013 6 The hope and expectation of many policy makers While the region is served by several fiber optic is that much of this lag and digital divide can be submarine cables and in many places overcapacity quickly overcome with new broadband wireless exists, there is no effective competition in the technologies (both, fixed – WIFI, and mobile – 3G provision of international services. In most and 4G). As demonstrated in Figure 3, in this aspect countries, the former incumbent operators still the region still has a long way to go with only Belize control international facilities and many of the cables and Jamaica showing levels of mobile broadband are not subject to open access regulatory regimes. penetration greater than 17%, the Dominican Similar challenges exist at the national transmission Republic and Bahamas at 6%, and all others at level where there are few competitors. The result less than 1%. According to the ITU, the average is relatively high prices, limited access and slow penetration levels for the World, Developed, and growth of broadband services and uptake. Developing countries in 2011 were 15.7%, 51.3%, and 8%, respectively. The result of such major gaps in ICT infrastructure and high prices is that the region is ill prepared to In general, low broadband penetration rates are compete in the global economy. Without access caused by a number of factors, including lack of to affordable and reliable ICT infrastructure infrastructure, weak or minimal competition, and and services, the countries of the Caribbean high level of prices for services and devices. In are also limited in their options to improve their the Caribbean region, low penetration is also due competitiveness, productivity and diversify their to these factors but more specifically because economies through knowledge- and information- the liberalization agenda remains to be fully based services. completed. Monopolies or partially competitive ICT sub-sectors continue to exist in countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, and Trinidad and Tobago. Box 2 The Caribbean Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (CARCIP) CARCIP provides targeted solutions for Caribbean countries to benefit from the developmental and transformational potential of ICT. First, CARCIP provides opportunities for the CARIFORUM region to bridge the remaining gaps in regional and domestic broadband communications infrastructure, including submarine cable infrastructure and landing stations, domestic backbone networks and cross-border links and national and regional internet exchange points (IXPs). Second, CARCIP aims at creating an enabling environment that leverages this regional and domestic infrastructure to foster employment and economic growth. This includes the support of policies and regulatory frameworks to further increase market competition, as well as support to develop innovative regional IT and ITES industries, applications by the private sector and, e-government and m-government services. Specific skills development programs target women and youth to improve employability and bridge the gender gap in access to, and use of ICT. Finally, CARCIP aims at supporting institutional development and capacity building that enhances the effectiveness of the regional institutional ICT framework. The program ultimately seeks to contribute to the higher strategic objectives of regional and global integration, green growth and competitiveness of the Caribbean region. CARCIP is expected to contribute to the CARIFORUM regional integration strategy by fostering economic growth, generating employment, supporting poverty reduction plans, enabling rural integration and enhancing the regional and domestic competitiveness of each of the member countries. CARCIP Phase 1 was approved by the WB Board on May 22, 2012 with Grenada ($10m IDA), St. Lucia ($6m IDA) and St. Vincent and the Grenadines ($6m IDA) as participating countries. The CARCIP program is also supported by three regional institutions (via a US$ 3 million regional grant), including the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), the Caribbean Knowledge and Learning Network (CKLN) and the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL). 7 Customized approach to ICT development Given the large disparity in ICT development across Over the past ten years the focus of policy makers Caribbean countries, there is no single solution, or has been to introduce competition, transform “cookie cutter approach� to address the region’s incumbent operators, revamp policy and weaknesses and threats. Rather, a customized regulatory frameworks, build regulatory capacity, approach, strategy (e.g. national broadband and – when required – make catalytic investments strategy), policy and regulatory actions, and in infrastructure in the form of Public Private implementation plan should be developed for each Partnerships (PPPs). Development of the sector country according to its level of ICT development, has required that countries not only continue at specific challenges, and sector development goals an accelerated pace to address the fundamentals and objectives. (i.e. supply) but also begin initiatives to address uptake and use of ICTs for jobs growth, business In some countries, an emphasis on updating the development and innovation (see Box 2). legal, policy and regulatory enabling environment (e.g. implementation of pro-competition policies and regulations) may be all that is needed. In others the emphasis may need to be on greater access (i.e. supply) at lower costs and higher quality, on stimulating demand (e.g. e-government services, ICT skills training and applications and content development), or a combination of all the above. However, such an approach does not minimize the need to consider the regional context or to integrate into a regional strategy. Quite the contrary, the potential spillover effects of ICT make it a critical sector for stimulating growth, competitiveness and diversification in the region. The region’s prosperity depends on how well it is integrated into the global economy. ICTs, particularly high- speed Internet, are playing an increasingly central role in this – enhancing trade, facilitating cross- border payments, increasing investment – all key components of economic growth/diversification and poverty reduction. ICT investments in one country can generate positive externalities for other countries and for the region as a whole. Further coordination of national strategies, policies and initiatives can only strengthen outcomes. 8 Conclusion The Caribbean has significant opportunities to assessment of their own ICT policies, strategies and benefit from regional efforts to use information objectives. While the mobile services segment has and communications technologies (ICTs) to advanced significantly, bottlenecks and challenges facilitate and jumpstart policies and initiatives exist in the supply and demand of high quality low across all sectors and services. Yet, while the region cost broadband services. has seen an overall expansion of mobile cellular use, variations in the prevalence and use of ICTs There is no single best practice or solution, but across countries remain. These variations are due examples exist to guide policymakers in designing to different income levels, location, and human policies and strategies that address specific capital. Addressing the disparities in ICT sector market dynamics and the goals and objectives development across countries in the Caribbean of all stakeholders. Taking into consideration will more effectively support the expansion of ICTs the specific development level of the sector and in the region. government’s goals and objectives, customized solutions must be designed and implemented. Policy makers can more effectively utilize ICTs to Renewed partnerships between the private accelerate and solidify their economic and job and public sectors can catalyze the necessary growth objectives across all sectors and services. investment and innovation. Governments will play But before being able to benefit from all that a role in creating the right enabling environment, ICTs can offer, they must take an inward look and policies, strategies and objectives, and under the most challenging conditions, may need to lead. 9 References ITU World Telecommunication /ICT Indicators database Qiang, Christine Zhenwei, and Wellenius, Björn, December 2010, Five Decades of IDA in the Information and Communication Sector Background Paper Qiang, Christine Zhenwei, and Rossotto, Carlo, 2009, Broadband Study, [http://siteresources. worldbank.org/E X TIC4D/Resources/IC4D_ Broadband_35_50.pdf] World Bank, May 2012, CARCIP Project Appraisal Document, First Phase (APL 1A) World Bank TWICT Unit, May 2013, ICT Sector Policy Notes for Dominican Republic, Surinam and Jamaica 10 worldbank.org/lac 12